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• 1 media/2020-Blog03-Img02.png 2020-08-24T10:46:18+00:00 Interested in heritage buildings? You can’t miss this 3000-Year-Old castle! 16 Architecture and conservation at the Vedi Fortress plain 2021-07-18T11:39:04+00:00 by Ma Nga Yu, Mary, Year 4 Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Architecture (Conservation), University of Hong Kong
  July 2021

  
  
  Introduction of site architecture 

  The architecture complex in Vedi Fortress comprises Late Bronze Age (LBA) fortifications made of unworked cyclopean stone masonry and several foundations of buildings (Erb-Satullo et al, 2019). 

  Two stones walls are nearly parallel, with a lower longer one located at a less steep slope and another upper one built on an artificial terrace at the inner area. They form two layers of protection and have separated the Vedi Fortress into three sections: 1. The easily accessible area in front of the first wall, 2. a large area secured in between two fortification walls, 3. and at the highest point of the Vedi fortress, give the citadel double protection.

  In the middle of the fortification walls, there is a large number of sizable collapsed stones concentrated in front of the walls which suggests the existence of a fortified tower in each fortification wall. The fortified towers or gate towers are taller defensive structures built for surveillance use and protect the gate area, which is the weakness of a fortification. Within the two barriers, one excavation trench together with several exposed building foundations, can be identified in the below aerial photo. 

  
  There are two more trenches located behind the second wall, in the innermost citadel which is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. However, except for the two walls, there is no intact architecture found, only the remains of the building foundation or partial building walls exposed after excavation. In the following excavation seasons, we will continue to examine found architecture and discover new ones, to resolve the questions from season 2019: Were there residences in Vedi Fortress? How did those in the Fortress communicate with others? What were the two walls defending against? Motivated by curiosity, we will gradually complete the puzzle of the Vedi Fortress in future seasons.
  
  
  Case study and comparison of walls and buildings

  In the Vedi Fortress, some foundation settings and the excavated findings such as bones of sheep combined to suggest regions could have been used as crop storage and animal pens. Excavation and database study will continue to support or subvert this hypothesis and to discover the functions of other unidentified buildings. 

  Through reviewing related archaeology publications and matching site characteristics with similar archaeological sites, it may help narrow the scope of excavation and provide new but applicable insights in solving unsure questions. For example, Fortresses in the Caucasus region were placed for surveillance of agricultural land which may suggest Vedi Fortress could have been overlooking arable land in the past (Hammer, 2014).

  The Sangar Fortress is one of the fortresses which has a similar landscape to Vedi fortress, with a long fortification built on a growing slope with cliffs on the three other sides. Fortification walls and towers in both fortresses were constructed along the contour lines or along the artificial terraces in Vedi’s case; in other words, the construction of forts followed the morphology of the relief to strengthen defensive power. The fortification in both cases is believed to take advantage of the highland for supervision or other functions like hillfort and plateau fort (Biscione, Hmayakyan & Parmegiani, 2002).

  Another case similar to the Vedi’s one is the Berdi Glukh Fortress in Mtnadzor. A fortification wall was built on a gentle slope as the above cases. However sections of fortification were also found along all other edges to enclose the site and form a castle (Biscione, Hmayakyan & Parmegiani, 2002). An enclosed circular fortification surrounding a hilltop is more common than this special one in Vedi.

  Except for the shape and site relief, the concentration of diagnostic ceramic sherds, types of construction rocks and section drawings of buildings are other key comparative elements used in different site study  (Biscione, Hmayakyan & Parmegiani, 2002). Site study, for example, data collection on the fortification walls will first focus on the building materials and structures. This may accelerate the understanding of building techniques, and even the construction date.

  Conservation

  Since most of the architecture remains stable, neither the risks of damaging construction nor removal are expected in the coming years, recording building condition regularly and delaying deterioration will be the future conservation approach. This means destructive intervention should be minimized unless massive potential decay is observed, to “Avoid the scenario where attempts to retain the same amount of fabric gradually result in the complete replacement of old with new” (Australian Heritage Council, 2013). See Fig. 3. 
  
  

  “Settlement survey/ Documentation – Regular condition assessment – Maintenance Plan – Constant record and alter Maintenance plan accordingly.”  

  Processes of Conservation

  We are now digitally recording and designing a conservation plan to understand Vedi Fortress better and try to extend the lifespan of the architectural heritage for both physical and historical value. In the management or conservation plan, precautional and practical measures such as regular monitors and propping to reduce the risk of catastrophic collapse should be carried out following the advice of conservation professionals. See Fig.4. 
  
  

  Traditional building techniques, materials and substances that correspond to the appropriate historical period should be referenced if partial restoration is needed, to secure the integrity and authenticity of the LBA architecture and that of our site. 

  References

  Australian Heritage Council. (2013). Ruins: A guide to conservation and management. Commonwealth of Australia. 

   

  Biscione, R., Hmayakyan, S., & Parmegiani, N. (2002). The North-Eastern Frontier. Urartians and non-Urartians in the Sevan Lake Basin. I, The Southern Shores, Rome.

   

  Erb-Satullo, N. L., Jachvliani, D., Kalayci, T., Puturidze, M., & Simon, K. (2019). Investigating the spatial organization of Bronze and Iron Age fortress complexes in the South Caucasus. antiquity, 93(368), 412-431.

   

  Hammer, E. (2014). Highland fortress-polities and their settlement systems in the southern Caucasus. Antiquity, 88(341), 757.

   

  Hodges, R., & Molla, N. (2009). Decoding Butrint s Fortifications: Excavations and Surveys, 2005-2009. Expedition: The magazine of the University of Pennsylvania, 51(3), 18-20.