Surface cleaning and structural survey of standing buildings Predrag Novaković, University of Ljubljana Standing architectural and structural remains are subjects of non-invasive archaeology from its very start. In long history of surveying and recording such monuments researchers applied a series of varying methods, mostly originating from architectural domain. In this lecture another approach will be presented, that of structural survey based on the idea of single context unit as developed in the so called stratigraphic excavations in 1908s. In addition to this also the practice of ‘surface cleaning’ will be presented. Two case studies (Church of St.Mary, Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Stari Trogir near Sevid, Croatia) will be used for illustrating this method and practices.
Transcript
Surface cleaning and structural survey of standing buildingsPredrag Novaković, University of Ljubljana
Standing architectural and structural remains are subjects of non-invasive archaeology from its very start. In long history of surveying and recording such monuments researchers applied a series of varying methods, mostly originating from architectural domain.
In this lecture another approach will be presented, that of structural survey based on the idea of single context unit as developed in the so called stratigraphic excavations in 1908s. In addition to this also the practice of ‘surface cleaning’ will be presented.
Two case studies (Church of St.Mary, Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Stari Trogir near Sevid, Croatia) will be used for illustrating this method and practices.
Major characteristics of surface cleaning and structural survey as non-invasive field techniques:
- site centered
- very valuable in low-tech circumstances
- enable very close ‘contact’ with site; very detailed knowledge about the site prior to the excavation, great potential for preventive and also ‘investigative’ archaeology
- could be efficiently done with small teams
- dealing with structures and artifacts (possibly more precise chronology than in e.g. surface surveys)
- allow very moderate (minimal) intervention in structures and soil cover.
Scraping the first 10 cm of top-soil is often a fast and intensive way of knowing what lies below the surface. Since the first 10 cm of soil is often very recent soil formation, to is considered non- destructive to the archaeological remains below(R. Tringham, Anthro 2AC Spring 2008, Forum 4b: Lecture 13, February 2008, Non-destructive/non-invasive ways of investigating archaeological places).
Clearing tropical Central American lowland vegetation.
(R. Tringham, Anthro 2AC Spring 2008, Forum 4b: Lecture 13, February 2008, Non-destructive/non-invasive ways of investigating archaeological places).
The floor-plan of buildings after surface scraping at 10 cm depth at Çatalhöyük, Turkey in 1993-94
Two case studies by the Dept. of Archaeology, University of Ljubljana:
1. Medieval church transformed to mosque, Jajce, Bosna in Herzegovina, July 2010
(STRUCTURAL SURVEY AND RECORDING)
2. Roman maritamae villa at Stari Trogir near Sevid, Central Dalmatia, Croatia, July 2004
(SURFACE CLEANING AND STRUCTURAL SURVEY)
Jajce
Stari Trogir, Sevid
Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 2010
Student field exercises
University of Ljubljana,University of Sarajevo,University of Zagreb
Program:
a) Teaching basic skills in field recording of structures
b) Structural survey of Church of St. Mary and St. Luke tower
c) Small test excavation at fortress (testing the ground probing radar results)
Church of St. Mary and tower of St. Luke (dashed lines)
Plan of church of St. Mary and tower of St. Luke
Church of St. Mary and tower of St. Luke,
view from the west
Church of St. Mary;
Inner view on W wall
Tower of St. Luke
Teaching basic skills in field recording
Recording
Observing and recording the structural elements (units):
a) Structural units (i.e. single context units); much as the stratigraphic units in excavation
b) Recording dimensions, materials and relationships with other structural units
c) Primarily to understand building history (i.e. sequence of building events, phases etc.); style of secondary importance (taken to account in next steps).
Types of records
DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURAL UNIT
Types of records
PRECISE MEASUREMENTS
Types of records
PHOTOSKETCHES (INTERPRETED PHOTOGRAPHIES FOR STRUCT. UNITS
Types of records
PHOTOSKETCHES (INTERPRETED PHOTOGRAPHIES FOR STRUCT. UNITS
Types of records
REFERENCE LISTS:
- STRUCTURAL UNITS
- MEASUREMENTS
- DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHIES
- DRAWINGS
- SPECIAL FINDS
- PHOTOSKETCHES
SURFACE CLEANING AND STRUCTURAL SURVEY
Roman maritamae villa at Stari Trogir near Sevid, Central Dalmatia, Croatia, July 2004
Landscape setting
Situation before
Surface cleaning
Surfaces and structures cleaned
Recording: surveying, photographing
Recording: description
Describing: manual and models
Rubbershiting and georeferencing
Mosaicing
Composite plan
Analysis
New elements
Interpretation
Računalniška vizualizacije vile v Starem trogirju
(iz Nika Lužnik, Diplomska naloga FF UL, 2011)
Animacija – Stari Trogir (iz Nika Lužnik, Diplomska naloga FF UL, 2011)
