Page 90 - TINA Dergi Sayi 11

TINA

Denizcilik Arkeolojisi Dergisi

However, it is already unknown when this change perspective, the Patara harbor bay presents a very
happened, and thus, what is its chronological rela- rich laboratory.
tionship to the archaeological finds (before or after?) Coasts are another implementation area of geo-
(See footnote 27). physics in the research of ancient harbors. In the
Furthermore, initial analysis of PAT 1 drillings summer of 2012, Pascal Brengel and Frederik
indicate a shallow bay environment in the middle of Berger of Mainz Johannes Gutenberg University
the bay. However, it is contradictory to the outcome conducted a prospection at Akdam on the northeast-
of Eşen 23 drilling that was carried out by Öner al- ern coast of the Patara harbor bay using a ground
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most at the same place . Because Öner measured a radar (GPR) . Here, they detected an anomaly ex-
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sea depth of approximately 20 m in the “mid-bay”. tending in parallel, approximately 30 m east of the
It seems that there is a need to increase the number wall remains uncovered during the 1994 campaign.
of drillings in this area as well as checking both data Given its thickness and uninterrupted length, it can
and obtaining a chronological data. Similarly, drill- be assumed that this anomaly can be a terrace wall,
ings PAT 2, 3 and 4 that were carried out in the sum- enclosing/comprising the area with buildings on the
mer of 2017 showed that the inner harbor was closed west. In this case, it means that it is part of the coast-
by a seawall and a tower, becoming shallower to- al harbor structures.
wards the south from the entrance: potential ancient Several geophysical prospections that will be con-
harbor stores were found approximately 5 m under ducted on the foreshore of the Patara harbor bay,
the sea level at the entrance while a similar evidence totalling to a few kilometers as well as in appropriate
was obtained at a depth of 3,5 m in drilling PAT 2. reed fields and ponds will enable us to acquire data
We believe that in the future, geoarchaeological on both architectural remains in these areas and the
surveys that will be conducted as an integrated part ancient coastline. An analysis of outcomes will also
of a comprehensive project will shed light on the be important in determination and planning of ar-
secrets of paleoenvironmental archive of the Patara chaeological research methods (such as excavation
harbor bay. and drilling) for conducting them in combination
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS with other research methods (geoarcheology).
The Patara harbor bay and coasts were geophysi- IN SHORT
cally surveyed in 2012 by two different teams (Fig. Other than those that have been briefly mentioned
13) . These studies, mainly preliminary, have not above, many methods will be used for surveying
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been completed due to several reasons. The lateral the Patara harbor bay, which has spread over a wide
sonar and seismic prospections in two ponds of the area, including remote sensing technology that has
wetland by Harun Özdaş and Nilhan Kızıldağ of been frequently and successfully used in archaeolog-
İzmir Dokuz Eylül University revealed very import- ical studies such as LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detec-
ant clues about potential of the Patara harbors. Many tion and Ranging) or Hyperspectral Imaging. Only
anomalies, mostly point anomalies have been de- when all these methods are combined with tradition-
tected in those two ponds. Interpretation about these al studies of archaeology, it would become possible
anomalies are not satisfactory enough. These studies to describe material history of the past in a more
should be resumed as well being supported with micro scale and diachronic way: recording each and
other geophysical methods. Geophysical prospection any of human remains in a superficial (survey) or
techniques for archaeological purposes in wetlands vertical (excavation) way, describing the spatial and
have been used for a period of time, and yet they are temporal relations between them, and trying to eluci-
still open to development in many ways. From this date semantic relations based on these.
28 ÖNER 2009, 123.
29 ÖZDAŞ – KIZILDAĞ 2014; BRENGEL – BERGER 2014.
30 BRENGEL – BERGER 2014.

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