Research Information System
BUILDINGS (BASEL), vol.14, no.9, pp.1-16, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
In recent years, at the Kınık Höyük archeological site in Niğde province
in Turkey, a city square (plaza) located in the town’s acropolis was
discovered. Context and spatial finds indicate that this stone-paved
plaza dates to the Hellenistic era. It is made of a large cobblestone
masonry structure made of local amorphous units that were fixed only
with compacted earth. The conservation plan concentrated on enclosing
the unbound free edges by using new pavement and a retaining wall to
stop the ongoing decay because the plaza had already lost its integrity
before the discovery. To distinguish between the original application
and modern interventions, new cladding was designed and installed lower
than the ancient pavement’s level using smaller stones from the same
source. Additionally, a retaining wall was planned and built to be
plastered to achieve a plain surface, where the pavement’s texture
created contrast and highlighted neat craftsmanship. For this
consolidation application, a hydraulic lime-based binder was combined
with local earth for compatibility with the older application. The
application’s suitability and durability were demonstrated after it was
observed for a few years while being subjected to atmospheric impacts
without any protection. Therefore, the examination confirmed that the
suggested method is safe to apply in situations where similar
stabilization needs arise.