27. araştırma sonuçları toplantısı 3. cilt - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

esearch is conducted with particular diligence and care because the temple
platform is a critical component of the research team’s reconstruction project.
Discussions with local villagers revealed a common belief that there exists
a vaulted chamber underneath the temple ruins. A vaulted chamber under
the podium is not unexpected as other surviving temples in the area, such
as the so-called Şekerhane Köşkü (so-called Trajan Cenotaph) at Selinus
(Gazipaşa) and the Tycheion at Nephelis (Muz Kent), contain vaulted subgrade
chambers. Among its possible purposes the chamber may have served
as a repository for votives in connection with the temple cult. Non-destructive
investigation of the podium through GPR scanning was therefore deemed
warranted, especially since complete clearing of the podium is planned for
upcoming seasons (Fig. 5). GPR scanning can provide important information
concerning the composition of a sub-grade vault that may be helpful to its
clearing by the excavations teams. Scanning may also reveal structural issues
with the vault that could be exacerbated by clearing.
Baseline scans were taken at the Şekerhane Köşkü at Selinus in order to
determine the readings to be expected for a sub-grade vaulted chamber. The
output from the scans at the temple podium at Antiocheia closely resembles
those taken at Selinus, therefore implying the existence of a vaulted chamber
(Fig. 6). There are some differences, however, between the Selinus and
Antiocheia scans, in that for the Antiocheia results the reflections are blurrier
and the bottom of the chamber cannot be as easily identified. This is expected as
the team anticipates the chamber to be filled with earth and debris due to heavy
soil deposition from the hillside. The findings of the GPR investigations from
the 2008 season are very exciting, yet not conclusive. To further investigate the
situation, the following actions will be taken in subsequent seasons:
• The podium will be cleared of accumulated fill down to the podium floor
or extrados of the vault.
• Prior to clearing the sub-grade chamber, nondestructive techniques
(borescopy) will be employed to examine the structural integrity of the
vault structure.
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