RESTORATIONS
The valorization of the site was sustained through restorations and realization of tourist facilities on the tell.
In Area B, a viewpoint was realized to the east of the EB III city-wall, which is here visible for a length of more than 50 m, while ancient mud-brick structures have been restored and protected by means of a cap of new mud-bricks, plastering the faces of the walls with a special mortar. In Area A, Buildings A1 and A2 have been respectively consolidated by means of ethyl-silicate and protected and restored.
During the year 2000 campaign, a complete exposure of the fortifications of Area E has been accomplished, enhancing the visibility of Tower A1, now part of the tourist path for the visit of Middle Bronze Age fortifications at the southern foot of the he southern foot of the tell. New illustrative panels of the excavation areas were set on the ground, thus ensuring a rich and correct information for tourists (c. 250.000 every year, before the crisis).
by Mohammed Diab (MOTA-DACH)
after L. Nigro - H. Taha (eds.), Tell es-Sultan/Jericho in the Context of the Jordan Valley (Rome "La Sapienza" Studies on the Archaeology of Palestine & Transjordan, 2), Rome 2006, pp. 227-236
Since ancient times man used mud-bricks to build his home, and today we can still find the remains of these structures, especially in dry regions. Mud with pounded pebbles and sand was mixed with straw and then put in brick molds in the sun to dry; such mud-bricks were used in building earthen architecture. Local and international attention has been drawn to earthen structures, for they reflect rich diversity in architecture and decorative designs; they are living documentation of the development of traditional methods of building and traditional materials designs; and, finally, because they are deteriorating and facing destruction because of natural elements, and new methods of building. These earthen structures, some of which are very ancient, are in a great danger of disappearing.
Mud-brick is the main construction material used at Tell es-Sultan from the Neolithic period until the end of last century. It consists of the following:
1. sun-dry mud-brick: it is the main construction material, used for building domestic houses and fortification systems;
2. stone: it was mostly used for foundations of domestic houses and fortifications;
3. fired mud-brick and lime-plaster: it is available with little quantities, used for storage instillations especially during the Byzantine period.
The Palestinian experience in conservation of earthen structures in the Jericho area in the Jordan Valley (that is one of the most famous areas for earthen structures) started in 1997, and was stopped in 2000 because of the current political situation. The Department of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage conservation works in 1997 were mainly the following:
1. reconstructing a new mud-brick wall to support and stabilize the foundations of Early Bronze Age fortifications;
2. using chemical materials (Primal), which formed a thin isolation layer for six months;
3. digging drainage ditches to mitigate the soil erosion at different trenches;
4. comprehensive cleaning up of the site;
5. fencing the site;
6. back-filling of Trench I, II, III to make them on the level of cultural layers and refilling of all other holes in the site.
In 1998-1999, the Italian-Palestinian conservators used the following methods in conserving the earthen structures.
Experiments were conducted jointly with a team of Rome �La Sapienza� University by using new chemical materials.
The aim of these experiments was to try and conserve the earthen structures, and keep the decorative deigns intact. Two types of chemical materials were used:
1. Ethyl Silicate.
Before using this material on the actual structures, experiments were done in the laboratory on bricks found in excavations to test the effects of this chemical material on mud-bricks.
The success in laboratory experiments exceeded 80%. Therefore, the decision was taken to try and work on small parts of mud-brick structures at the actual site, in two Areas, to the south and to the north of Tell es-Sultan: Area A and Area F. These experiments were done to examine how the mud reacts using Ethyl Silicate in its natural habitat. Two methods were used to treat the mud with Ethyl Silicate: spraying (one sample) and injection (two samples). The samples were observed for three years (the first few months observation was constant and concentrated). We found out that the mud particles of the sample in the northern area (Area F), which were injected with the chemical material, began to disintegrate in the first month. Instead, the two samples in the southern area (Area A) of the site (one was injected, the other was sprayed) were 60% successful.
The laboratory analysis of �La Sapienza� University found that the physical characterises of mud-brick walls change from section to section, and even from brick to brick. After four month, the treated mud-bricks with the Ethyl Silicate had badly deteriorated, while others that had not been treated, and yet were exposed to the same weather conditions, were well preserved.
2. Primal.
In 1997, during the joint excavation with the team of Rome �La Sapienza� University at Tell es-Sultan, samples of mud-bricks were sprayed with Primal chemical.
The resistance in the very beginning was encouraging; however, after six months, the chemical was not effective. The effect of the Primal doesn�t last for a long time, especially in hot areas.
In 1999, the mud-bricks conservation intervention turned to use the traditional materials similar to those used at the site.
Experiments on the use of traditional materials proved to be effective in preserving mud-brick structures. Three different methods were used in restoration.
1. Construction of new mud-brick walls attached to the old ones.
As a result of the hot sun, wind and rain, some parts of the old walls had fallen down.
An emergency plan was necessary to save the rest of them, especially those walls in direct contact with natural effects. New mud-brick walls were erected to preserve the old ones.
2. Plastering walls with traditional mortar.
This method is the most used in preserving old mud buildings since ancient times: plastering parts of original mud walls, especially deteriorated ones, and the new supporting walls, with mixture of traditional mortar and new materials like hydrolic lime, to improve and strengthen the traditional mortar. The shortcomings of these two methods, erecting supporting walls and using traditional plaster, is that they hide (in the first case) or distort (in the second case) the original facades, and decorative features.
3. Reconstructing damaged parts of original mud-brick walls.
Reconstructing damaged parts of original mud-brick walls is used in certain cases: reconstruction by using mud-bricks fallen from the original buildings, or by using new mud-bricks.
In both methods, we made it clear where we had interfered. Reconstruction is used only in the areas of the wall which is most affected by natural effects.
4. Consolidation by injection.
Cracks and holes inside walls are injected with traditional mortar, either by using special pressure pups or manually.
1. Archaeological excavations should be avoided until finding effective solutions to control over the conservation state of the site.
2. Practical solutions should be investigated to solve the negative impact of wind on the site.
3. Rainfall and sun harmful impact on different features of the site should be solved by using suitable coverage and pack-filling methods.
4. Soil erosion which is caused by rainwater and runoff should be solved by digging drainage ditches.
5. Animal harmful impact should be solved by fencing the site properly.
6. Proper solutions must be looked for to prevent birds from digging their nests into the site.
7. A comprehensive conservation plan of the site should be prepared to mitigate its deterioration and to control over its conservation state.
Cerulli, T.
2000 �Appendix G. Analysis of Mudbrick Samples from Tell es-Sultan (Jericho)�, in N. Marchetti - L. Nigro (eds.), Excavations at Jericho, 1998. Preliminary Report on the Second Season of Excavations and Surveys at Tell es-Sultan, Palestine (Quaderni di Gerico 2), Rome 2000, pp. 349-354.
MAPEI
1999 Gerico � Jericho (Allegato a Realt� Mapei), Milano 1999.
Nigro, F.
1998 �Il Parco Archeologico per la conservazione e la valorizzazione di Tell es-Sultan, antica Gerico�, in N. Marchetti - L. Nigro (eds.), Scavi a Gerico, 1997. Relazione preliminare sulla prima campagna di scavi e prospezioni archeologiche a Tell es-Sultan, Palestina (Quaderni di Gerico 1), Roma 1998, pp. 205-229.
2000 �The 1998 season at Tell es-Sultan: measures for protection and development of the site. A project for the ancient Jericho�, in N. Marchetti - L. Nigro (eds.), Excavations at Jericho, 1998. Preliminary Report on the Second Season of Excavations and Surveys at Tell es-Sultan, Palestine (Quaderni di Gerico 2), Rome 2000, pp. 287-295.
|
|