Assessment of geoenvironmental problems at Hasankeyf Antique City (Türkiye)

Date

2024-01-01

Author

Topal, Tamer
Kaya, Y.

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The Hasankeyf Antique City contains several historical structures, ancient and new man-made caves. The dolomitic limestone exposed in the area is the main rock, but weak and not durable. The rock is deteriorated under environmental conditions such as wetting–drying and salt crystallization. The area is now partly under reservoir water of Ilısu dam. The aim of this study is to assess geoenvironmental problems of the Hasankeyf Antique City for different environmental conditions and evaluate possible mitigation measures by considering rock properties and archeological values of the site. Field and laboratory studies as well as various slope stability analyses were carried out. This study indicates that there are problems such as erosion and undercutting of the limestone, block failure associated with collapse of the man-made caves, rock weakening due to cyclic environmental conditions, and slope instabilities dominantly in the form of planar failure and rockfall. An engineering fill is constructed to mitigate the effect of harsh environmental conditions and wave effect due to reservoir water. It also works as lateral support for the steep cliffs. Already detached rocks having no archeological values are removed, and a critical block underneath the Small Palace is stabilized. Furthermore, the Small Palace being partly under reservoir level is raised in such a way that the ancient structure is well above the maximum reservoir level. On the other hand, systematic monitoring of the critical historical structures and limestone blocks should be considered to check the long-term behavior of these.

Subject Keywords

Deterioration, Dolomitic limestone, Erosion and undercutting, Hasankeyf, Slope instability, Türkiye

URI

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85189198525&origin=inward
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/109337

Collections

Department of Geological Engineering, Article