29.07.2021-01.08.2021: Case Study: Big and deadly fires in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey and Preventive Conservation & Risk Preparedness  Measures & Evacuation Period at the Kelenderis Archaeological Excavation Site (Aydincik-Mersin, Turkey)

NOTE: This case study is published with the courtesy of Associate Professor Mahmut AYDIN, Head of the KELENDERIS Ancient  City Excavation. He is also the lecturer at Batman University, Member of KUMID and Academic Partner of the EU Project of KUMID  " DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN MUSEUMS 2020  and its output " A GUIDE ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN MUSEUMS 2020. All rights reserved. They can not be published without reference and permission.

DOCUMENTATION: Photographs-Videos: Head of Excavation Assoc. Dr. Mahmut AYDIN and Visiting Scholar Assoc. Dr. Sultan KARAOĞLU (Kocaeli University) in Kelenderis.
PREPARED BY : Deniz SERBEST , Archaeologist, Voluntary Worker for KUMID
 
Assoc. Dr. Mahmut AYDIN gave permission to be published  this case study on the KUMID website, with the view that it will contribute to the " DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN MUSEUMS PROJECT 2020  " and its output (26.08.2021)  KUMID presents  its endless appreciations to  him. 
 
More information about the Project and its output please click the link.

15-30 June 2021: Before the beginning of the archaeological excavation, the environment and fodder were cleaned against the possible fire hazards.
       
1.
29.07.2021-06:00 a.m. It was seen at 06:00 a.m  that the big and deadly forest fires that started in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey reached the Aydıncık district of Mersin province, where Kelenderis is located.

2.
29.07.2021: 06:00 a.m - 07:00 a.m  Brain storm was made with the head of the excavation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey (MoCT), the expert staff of the Klenderis excavation as well as other academics such as Prof. Dr. Yaşar Selçuk SENER, (Ankara HBU, Member of KUMID)  and measures were agreed jointly. Team of KELENDERIS started to implement them under the supervision of the head of the excavation.

3.
29.07.2021: 07:00 a.m - 09:00 a.m : Kelenderis Harbor Mosaic (13X3m), which is one of the rare examples in the World, was determined as the most risky artifact against fire because the mosaic was protected by a wooden roof and there were trees around it.
 
For the protection and preventive conservation of valuable mosaics from fire and fire effects;

• In order to reach the Harbor Mosaic by the shortest route, the security fences around the area were cut and the road was opened. (Pls click KUMID Youtube Video) 
• Geotextile was laid on the mosaics. (Pls click KUMID Youtube Video) 
• The sieved soil transported from the excavation area was laid on the geotextile with a thickness of 30 cm. (Pls click KUMID Youtube Video) 

    

Conclusion: By protecting mosaics.
 

• It has been prevented that the toxic gases, tiny pieces, particles, etc. in the smoke and excessive heat of the forest fires  will be destroyed the integrity, designs and colors of the mosaics.
•  It has been prevented that seeds that can be transported by wind, flames, etc., get between the mosaics and turn into plants and destroy the integrity, patterns and colors of the mosaics. 
• Thus, the mosaics were put under temporary protection.

 The head of the excavation who knows disaster risk preparation and  the team of the excavation coordinated by him carried out all these preparations in a total of approximately 2 hours.

FINAL LOOK: “Task of Land” was completed. But how will they leave from there ?


4.
29.07.2021: 09:00 a.m – 10:00 a.m  The dense smoke and heat of the forest fires around Kelenderis had already become dangerous enough to affect human health, especially breathing.
 
After negotiating with official institutions such as Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey (MoCT) and museums’ directors in the region,  the head of the excavation ordered the evacuation of KELENDERIS.
 

• This time, evacuation preparations began at the excavation house and gusethouse. Archive documents, important documents, computers, equipment , basic personal items ..etc. were collected  and loaded into the cars . 
• Basic preventive conservation measures were taken. For example, the propane cylinders used for cooking in the kitchen was evacuated to the safe zone. 

   

 The head of the excavation who knows disaster risk preparation and the team of the excavation coordinated by him carried out all these preparations in a total of approximately  1 hour.

5.
29.07.2021: 10:00 a.m : Solidarity and Evacuation to Uzuncaburç: Forest fire covered the road. Thanks to the voluntary support of the visiting scholar Assoc. Prof. Sultan KARAOĞLU (Kocaeli University),  with her caravan and private vehicle of the head of KELENDERIS , excavation team of 18 people left Kelenderis towards the safe zone.
 
A very difficult and dangerous journey began through the fire. (Pls click KUMID Youtube Video 1) The Kelenderis team arrived at the Uzuncaburç (DIOCAESAREA) archaelogical excavation site two hours later and stayed there 2 days.  (Pls click KUMID Youtube Video 2) 

          
  
6.
30.07.2021 02:00 p.m "International Virtual Conference on Museums 2021 ( IVCoM 2021)" These activities were summarized and presented at the last session titled “Disaster Resilient Museums”  hosted by KUMID of the . the "International Virtual Conference on Museums 2021 ( IVCoM 2021)"  For more information on the session, please click the link

         
7.
31.07.2021:10:00 a.m   Re-evacuation to Solipompeipolis  : The excavation leaders in the region talked  with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. (MoCT).  The fire started to threaten the Uzuncaburiç (DIOCAESAREA) archaeological site on the hill and in the completely forested area. By order of the Ministry,  it was decided to evacuate all excavation sites i the region.  Uzuncaburç and Kelenderis excavation team were re-evacuated to the archaeological city of Solipompeipolis (Mezitli; Mersin) and stayed there for 2 days.

8.
02.08.2021 10:00 a.m  Head of Excavation Associate Prof. Dr. Mahmut AYDIN, who went to Aydıncık district on 01.08.2021 and checked whether the forest fire was under control or not, reported to the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of MoCT that the danger was gone. The said  general directorate allowed all evacuated excavation teams in the region to return to their working areas.

Kelenderis Excavation Team returned to the excavation site on 02.08.2021.

9.
4-10 October 2021 We celebrated European Days of Conservation-Restoration 2021-E.C.C.O by sharing the poster in Turkish and English. 
                                 
 Poster in English.                Poster in Turkish 
April-October 2020: KUMID's Webinars....Preventive conservation preparedness for disasters, etc. were also included in the Online Seminars organized with the voluntary participation of our valuable members and guests of KUMID during the "fight against CORONAVIRUS (COVID 19) and "Stay at Home" days.
 You can visit the links for detailed information and videos. Link 1, Link 2 

       

30.10.2020 : Earthquake & Tsunami in Turkey: A small-scale tsunami that took place in Seferihisar - Sığacık during the Aegean Sea  centered earthquake that occurred on October 30, 2020, the historical Sığacık Castle and Kaleiçi Houses built by Parlak Mustafa Pasha on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent between 1521 and 1522 were adversely affected.

An old woman drowned and died during the tsunami. Her death was caused by the tsunami in Turkey and recognized as the first death because of this kind disaster.
This fact shows us that among the disasters in our country, we should take tsunami into account as well.

DOCUMENTATION:
 

• KUMID member Aytaç GUNER, documented Ebb Tide before tsunami by taking 3 photos and allowed them to be used in the KUMID studies.
•   KUMID Member Mehmet UĞUR (Archaeologist, Seferihisar Municipality) documented the situation in Sığacık right after the earthquake and tsunami with videos and photographs. He allowed them to be used in the works of KUMID.  Video 1:, Video 2:, Video 3:, Video 4:, Video 5:,  Video 6:

   Ebb Tide before tsunami 

          
Destruction in Sığacık Castle and Sığacık after the earthquake and tsunami


14.11.2020: ICOMOS-ICORP Turkey in Seferihisar: Team of ICOMOS -ICORP Turkey under the Presidency of Prof. Dr. Zeynep Gül ÜNAL  arrived to Seferihisar, Izmir  to monitor  the destruction of the historical Sığacık Castle and Kaleiçi Houses after the earthquake and tsunami . 
 
The team invited KUMID’s members in Izmir to accompany their monitoring visits. Information and document were shared.This invitation and participation greatly contributed to KUMID's work on disaster.
 
KUMID Members in the visit:  Saadet GUNER, Doç. Dr. Ali Kazım ÖZ, Mehmet UĞUR,  Aytaç GUNER , Deniz SERBEST(Voluntary Worker for KUMID)

        

12 Aralık 2020:"International Virtual Conference on Museums 2020 ( IVCoM 2020)" "Disaster Risk Reduction in Museums Project" and its output "Disaster Risk Reduction Guidelines in Museums", 2020 " was presented to last session titled “"DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN MUSEUMS"”  hosted by KUMID of the "International Virtual Conference on Museums 2020 ( IVCoM 2020)" 
 For more information on the session, IVCoM 2020 please click the link.

         


18.12.2020 : SHELTER Project (Horizon 2020-EU) The European Union Project "Disaster Risk Reduction in Museums" and its output "Guidelines for Disaster Risk Reduction in Museums" were invited to the 2020 SHELTER Project (Horizon 2020-EU) Virtual Open Lab Meeting for exchange information.

 
The project will especially target a roadmap for increasing structural safety and reconstruction techniques for the Sığacık citadel walls.
 
For SHELTER, 23 partners from 9 countries gathered for implementing solutions regarding heritage preservation, climatology and climate change for several case studies in Europe. For more information, visit the Project website.


19.12.2020. VIRTUAL CLOSING CEREMONY of European Union Project on "Disaster Risk Reduction in Museums Project" and its output "Disaster Risk Reduction Guidelines in Museums", 2020 " was held on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 17:30-19:00 (ZOOM).

Please click for the video. Please click the link for information about the project and to access the PDF output in Engilish :