Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas
Rock-cut historical structures have been constructed worldwide for various functions throughout history, including during the Byzantine Empire. The Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas Monastery is an exceptional one of the surviving rock-hewn buildings in the Thrace Region. It has a basilical plan and was constr...
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Istanbul University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Art-Sanat |
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| Online Access: | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/0E681383305145F085D919BAA05EED0C |
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| author | Şerife Özata Büşra Aktürk Engin Aktürk |
| author_facet | Şerife Özata Büşra Aktürk Engin Aktürk |
| author_sort | Şerife Özata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rock-cut historical structures have been constructed worldwide for various functions throughout history, including during the Byzantine Empire. The Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas Monastery is an exceptional one of the surviving rock-hewn buildings in the Thrace Region. It has a basilical plan and was constructed in the Early Byzantine Period. The study goals are to provide original material characterization, suggestions for damage prevention and conservation measures for rock-cut structures of Byzantine architecture through this monastery case. Therefore, firstly the distinct architectural style of the building was revealed through a comprehensive analysis and by comparing it with similar structures. Then, a damage reconnaissance was performed and material samples were subjected to mechanical, physical, and chemical analyses and acid treatment experiments. Investigations focused on identifying the original materials and understanding the reasons for various decay and damage types observed in the monastery. Proposals for materials compatible with the original material, considering physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, were developed. The effectiveness of the characterization methods was explained. To prevent the effect of cracks, which is the main structural damage, constructing strengthening structural elements by using suitable materials was recommended. For non-structural damages, the removal of moisture in the main rock was recommended, and possible actions for surface cleaning, conservation and consolidation were described. It is concluded that the documentation, diagnostic and restoration steps developed for this monastery can be applied to similar Byzantine rock-cut structures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bef040589d2f44a8a61b19b8903f2b4e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2148-3582 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Istanbul University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Art-Sanat |
| spelling | doaj-art-bef040589d2f44a8a61b19b8903f2b4e2025-08-20T03:09:30ZengIstanbul University PressArt-Sanat2148-35822024-01-012152956310.26650/artsanat.2024.21.1274271123456Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia NicholasŞerife Özata0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1993-7592Büşra Aktürk1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1484-7758Engin Aktürk2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0003-7714Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Kirsehir, Turkiyeİstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi, İstanbul, TürkiyeYıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, Istanbul, TurkiyeRock-cut historical structures have been constructed worldwide for various functions throughout history, including during the Byzantine Empire. The Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas Monastery is an exceptional one of the surviving rock-hewn buildings in the Thrace Region. It has a basilical plan and was constructed in the Early Byzantine Period. The study goals are to provide original material characterization, suggestions for damage prevention and conservation measures for rock-cut structures of Byzantine architecture through this monastery case. Therefore, firstly the distinct architectural style of the building was revealed through a comprehensive analysis and by comparing it with similar structures. Then, a damage reconnaissance was performed and material samples were subjected to mechanical, physical, and chemical analyses and acid treatment experiments. Investigations focused on identifying the original materials and understanding the reasons for various decay and damage types observed in the monastery. Proposals for materials compatible with the original material, considering physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, were developed. The effectiveness of the characterization methods was explained. To prevent the effect of cracks, which is the main structural damage, constructing strengthening structural elements by using suitable materials was recommended. For non-structural damages, the removal of moisture in the main rock was recommended, and possible actions for surface cleaning, conservation and consolidation were described. It is concluded that the documentation, diagnostic and restoration steps developed for this monastery can be applied to similar Byzantine rock-cut structures.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/0E681383305145F085D919BAA05EED0Cbyzantine rock-cut heritagedamagematerial characterizationchemical analysesholistic conservation |
| spellingShingle | Şerife Özata Büşra Aktürk Engin Aktürk Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas Art-Sanat byzantine rock-cut heritage damage material characterization chemical analyses holistic conservation |
| title | Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas |
| title_full | Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas |
| title_fullStr | Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas |
| title_short | Material Characterization and Damage Assessment of Byzantine Rock-Cut Monastery: A Case Study of Kiyikoy Hagia Nicholas |
| title_sort | material characterization and damage assessment of byzantine rock cut monastery a case study of kiyikoy hagia nicholas |
| topic | byzantine rock-cut heritage damage material characterization chemical analyses holistic conservation |
| url | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/0E681383305145F085D919BAA05EED0C |
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