HISTORICAL GRANARIES AT TAŞKALE (TURKEY) UNDER RISK: A GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Granaries are bioclimatic conservation structures with various forms using in different countries. In the past,

granaries have been an important structure in both the storage and conservation of products (such as like

wheat, barley, oats). According to the historical documents, the Taşkale village includes the studied grana

ries have been using as a settlement area since the Byzantine period. Recently, rockfalls have observed on

the walls of the northeastern parts of these historical granaries. The geological and geotechnical features of

the rock units used in these areas were determined to understand such problems. In the field, the rocks with

different colours and textural characteristics have taken into account and sampling has carried out from

three different levels. Laboratory studies were conducted for determining the mineralogical, chemical, pet

rographic and geomechanical properties. The granaries in the region carved in the fossiliferous reefal lime

stones and clayey-sandy limestones. These limestone levels are more sensitive to atmospheric conditions

than the overlaying travertine. The aim of the study is to provide geotechnical data to use in the conserva

tion processes of the ancient Taşkale granaries.