Serapeion Research & Anastylosis

2013

Historical Building Studies

With the support of the Ephesus Foundation, a team specializing in architecture from a German university, which has tailored its expertise to historical buildings, has been working on this subject since 2011. Their work forms an indispensable basis for the future presentation of the building.

The excellent preservation of the building and the fact that most of the major building elements are still lying on the ground in front of the temple provide experts with a great deal of information about the original position and layering of the blocks. Therefore, the Serapeion also offers a rare opportunity to investigate fundamental questions about the construction techniques and construction of temples from the Roman Empire period.

Damage Assessment

From the start of the project, a structural survey is conducted alongside the collection of information about the condition of the preserved building fabric by a conservation expert. Their task is to create a map of all identified damages caused by rain, wind, groundwater, salt, plants, and human activities and to prepare a catalog for suitable maintenance measures. The aim is to protect and preserve the ancient material in line with international monument conservation guidelines. In particular, questions such as which blocks can be used for the rebuilding of the temple and how they can be used will be answered.

3D Scanning of Results

In the field of archaeology, 3D laser scanning technology has become a popular tool for high-resolution 3D documentation of archaeological excavations. These scanners can scan superficial structures and three-dimensional subjects without touching the objects being examined. The data collected about the shape and possibly the appearance (like color) of real-world objects or environments is used to create digital, three-dimensional models.

2014

Building Survey

Cleaning and Geophysical Research in the Workshop Area