E003: Timeles Aqueduct, Access Tunnel

Abstract

Local Name: Yenidere Cayı, YeşilköyLocal Informant: Osman Güzel, Nuri Fiskinli, Mehmet KökenLocal Information: Source says that until recently, water from the springs was run through canals to power flour mills.Latitude: 37.36.18.2Longitude: 28.52.58.4Elevation: 845mDescription: Tunnel roughly 6-8m above level of modern road and GPS point. ** Preservation: The recent construction of a road along the north bank of the Kepiz Çayı has revealed and caused damage to sections of the conduit and two access tunnels perpendicular to it. The machinery used to cut vertically into the hillside exposed several longitudinal cross sections of the aqueduct conduit, effectively scraping away its entire southern side wall and the rubble masonry supporting it, as well as, in some areas, the blocks that formed the interior northern side wall of the conduit, revealing the mortared rubble packing that was built around both the conduit floor and the northern side wall (G002, E014, E013). In addition, the two horizontal access tunnels visible along the road cut were likely shortened in length as a result of the construction, and the western tunnel (E003) has suffered soil infill due to erosion so that it cannot be entered. The two tunnels are located about 350 m apart, but only the eastern tunnel (G001) can be entered. ** Construction: The tunnels are carved out of sandy conglomerate rock. The subterranean conduit is a vaulted masonry structure built of regular blocks of the same sandy conglomerate rock, bonded with white lime mortar with densely packed stone inclusions. The blocks are 0.30–0.40 m long and 0.20 m high. The side walls and floor of the conduit are surrounded by mortared rubble packing, 0.7 m thick along the northern side wall and 0.2 m thick below the floor. ** Description: The eastern tunnel (G001) is 0.8–1 m high and 0.7 m wide at the floor and 0.4 m wide at the ceiling. It can be followed for almost 11 m, at which point it connects directly to the subterranean masonry conduit. The interior of the conduit is about 1.7 m wide and 1.7 m high. Putlog holes line the interior of the conduit at a height of five courses, or just under 1 m, above the current floor level. It can be followed 27 m to the east and 8.4 m to the west, after which the modern road cut has damaged the remains. From this point headed west, a longitudinal section of the conduit is visible for about 270 m (G002, E013, E014).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92932/1/D2007.0377.JP