A Holistic Approach to the Display and Conservation of the Yenikapı-1 Shipwreck Anchor
Titolo: A Holistic Approach to Displaying an Ancient Anchor
Original Context: Presentato al 35th International Symposium of Excavations, Surveys, and Archeometry (2013).
Astratto
This research presents a landmark study in maritime archaeology, marking the first time in Türkiye that a historical object was investigated using Flat Panel Digital Radiography and replicated via 3D Laser Scanning and CNC machining. The project, focusing on the Y-shaped anchors from the Yenikapı-1 shipwreck, introduces a radical departure from traditional conservation practices.
A New Conservation Philosophy
Conventionally, the thick marine concretion layers (bark) on iron artifacts were viewed merely as molds or “filler materials” to be discarded after the iron core was extracted. This project, however, treats the concretion bark as a unique archaeological find with its own identity. By stabilizing and preserving these shells, the study provides a multi-layered narrative of the artifact’s 1,200-year underwater journey.
Technological Milestones & Innovations
Pioneering Digital Radiography: By utilizing Flat Panel technology for the first time on a cultural artifact in Türkiye, the internal structural integrity and original form of the anchor were mapped with unprecedented precision before any physical intervention.
3D Scanning & CNC Integration: The original anchor was digitally archived through 3D scanning. This data was then processed in a CNC Lathe to produce a scaled, high-fidelity replica, restoring the anchor’s lost production thickness and functional shape.
The Triple-Narrative Display: The project achieved a “Holistic Display” by showcasing three completing forms together:
The Excavated State (with its original concretion bark preserved),
The Conserved Iron Core,
The Technologically Restored Model (CNC replica).
This project represents a fundamental shift in conservation philosophy by treating the marine concretion not as a waste product, but as an integral part of the artifact’s archaeological identity. By combining digital radiography, 3D scanning, and CNC technology, the study established a new scientific protocol that allows for the preservation of an object’s current state while simultaneously reconstructing its original production form. It stands as a landmark study in Türkiye, demonstrating how advanced technology can be used to document and display the entire “life cycle” of an archaeological find without losing its historical context.
The preliminary findings and innovative methodologies presented in this study have been further detailed and expanded in the conservator’s subsequent publications. These later works provide deeper insights into the long-term stabilization results and the evolution of the digital documentation protocols used for the Yenikapı shipwrecks.
giovane, il. (2013). "Un approccio olistico alla visualizzazione di un'ancora antica" [Astratto], 17VI Simposio di Archeologia del Mediterraneo (SOMA), 25-27 aprile,en, Mosca.
“Gestione dei beni culturali nelle zone costiere,en”
