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Halide Nur Dursun | Dec 24, 2024
Archaeological investigations at the Kalehisar site, led by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kemal Şahin from Adnan Menderes University, have been complemented by an important geophysical near surface imaging conducted by Prof. Dr. Turgay İşseven and his team from the ITU Department of Geophysical Engineering
Kalehisar is located 15 km northwest of Alaca/Çorum and 1 km south of Mahmudiye village. The madrasa and other structures in the area exhibit the characteristics of Anatolian Seljuk urban architecture and are thought to date to the first half of the 13th century. While the madrasa and inn structures have survived to the present, geophysical investigations were necessary to identify the locations of buried structures such as the mosque, bathhouse, kilns, houses of the period, and cemeteries.
Following preliminary geophysical investigations conducted by a private company in 2019, further studies were expanded in 2023 by Assist. Prof. Dr. Sercan Kayın from Gümüşhane University's Department of Mining Engineering. These efforts continued into 2024 with the inclusion of ITU Department of Geophysical Engineering members Prof. Dr. Turgay İşseven, R. A. Dr. Nedim Gökhan Aydın, R. A. Orhan Apaydın, and M.Sc. student Oğuz Altıntaş. All studies have been carried out with the official permission of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
As part of the geophysical studies conducted last summer, three different geophysical methods were applied by the ITU Geophysical Engineering team in pre-determined areas to locate potential structures within the site. A total of 800 meters of electrical resistivity tomography data were collected along 12 survey lines, magnetic data were gathered along 89 parallel lines spanning a total length of six kilometers and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data were acquired along 198 parallel lines exceeding 11 kilometers in total. Preliminary evaluations of the collected data point to significant insights into the archaeological value of the site.
Due to the suitability of the site as a large area for geophysical studies, it is planned that investigations will continue periodically in the coming years. Moreover, the site offers an excellent opportunity to develop a comprehensive internship program focused on field applications for undergraduate students in the ITU Department of Geophysical Engineering, allowing them to put their theoretical knowledge into practice.
GPR and Magnetic studies in Kalehisar, in front of the madrasa ruins.
Geophysical fieldwork team. (From left to right) M.Sc. student Oğuz Altıntaş, R.A. Orhan Apaydın, R.A.Dr. Nedim Gökhan Aydın, Assist.Prof.Dr. Sercan Kayın and team leader Prof.Dr Turgay İşseven.
Electric Tomography Studies in Kalehisar. Mahmudiye Village is visible on far left side.