THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF THE DIYARBAKIR CITY WALLS: A REPORT ON CURRENT STATUS AND ISSUES OF CONSERVATION

Abstract

Diyarbakir, which is located in the region of Southeastern Anatolia, is a settlement with a history that is thousands of years old. The walls surrounding the historic city centre, which reached their current extent in the 4th century, have been the most important symbol of the city since their construction. However, as they are no longer used for defence, the Diyarbakir city walls have been neglected, and repairs and maintenance have been insufficient. To properly preserve the walls, which have begun to degrade rapidly, it is necessary to ensure their correct analysis and documentation. In this study, in accordance with the information obtained from research conducted from January to June of 2012, the current status of the walls and the challenges associated with their conservation are presented together with their history and architectural features.