Objectives
The Zeyve Höyük archaeological site is located near the village of Porsuk, in Niğde Province, at the foot of the Taurus Mountains in southern Cappadocia. Situated on a 16-meter-high natural hill, the remains are spread over 4 hectares above a geological conglomerate with stratigraphy ranging from 5 to 8 meters in depth. An impressive mudbrick fortification from the Hittite period (XVIth century BC) has been unearthed and remained exposed without protection during decades.
In 2019, the director of the archaeological mission at the Porsuk – Zeyve Höyük site in Turkey contacted CRAterre to organize an expert assessment of the site. This support for the archaeological mission enabled:
- a technical assessment of the state of preservation of the remains;
- the study of possible conservation and enhancement options;
- the provision of technical and strategic recommendations for improving the site's conservation;
- the improvement of existing conservation techniques (brick production, consolidation, cladding);
- the implementation of a protocol for monitoring deterioration;
- the development of an action plan combining excavation, conservation, and enhancement;
- meetings and discussions with local partners to foster participatory site management.
This project is part of a program supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which aims to support French archaeological missions abroad (MAFE) in the preservation of earthen architectures discovered during excavations (ACAT project).
Funding
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, French Embassy in Türkiye
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