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17 Working with Nature to Preserve Site and Landscape at Gordion
- University of Pennsylvania Press
- Chapter
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There are two main categories of built remains at Gordion: the settlement occupied intermittently from the Early Bronze Age to the War of Independence , and over 100 burial tumuli erected primarily during the Middle Phrygian period. Both categories are, in principle, protected by Turkish law, but part of the ancient settlement as well as most of the tumuli lie in deeply plowed and irrigated fields, and the damage has been considerable. Additional deterioration has been caused by natural forces: wind and water erosion, freezing and thawing, and root disturbance. Plants grow almost anywhere, and they can impede or enhance the preservation of archaeological ruins. By managing the open-air archaeological site of Gordion as a very specialized kind of garden within the broader historical landscape, we solve several problems and create a variety of opportunities. I cannot say that all of our strategies are of proven value, but I present here some of the approaches I have used in collaboration with the Gordion conservation team led by Frank Matero. Problems in Preservation To dig is to destroy, so ordinarily the best way to preserve a site is to leave it unexcavated. Even so, deep-rooted plants frequently disturb subsurface remains. Post-excavation preservation of exposed building levels needs to consider the deep- and shallow-rooted plants that can destroy or obscure architectural remains, although such consideration is often absent in site management plans. The tumuli present a somewhat different problem: the roots generally are not deep enough to disturb the tomb chambers below, although erosion channels and overall surface erosion remain significant issues that need to be resolved. At Gordion, we are working with nature rather than against it, using our knowledge of the habits and growth cycles of the native vegetation to determine which plants should be encouraged or discouraged to grow in particular parts of the site. There are three key goals that underlie this project: to understand the basic characteristics of plants that grow in the region; to maximize the diversity of the desirable species in the plant cover, thereby making it harder for the undesirables to grow; and to apply that knowledge to managing vegetation at the site. The surfaces of tumuli and unexcavated settlement mounds, where minimal intervention can have dramatic results with remarkably little effort, might be thought of as parkland. Excavated areas with exposed architecture can also benefit from effective use of vegetation cover, but require more active intervention and maintenance. Even if a roof is erected over an excavated area, seeds will blow in and trash will accumulate, causing standing structures to suffer from fluctuating environmental conditions. Zero-maintenance, therefore, is a goal that can never be reached for open-air archaeological sites. The most effective management plan is one that utilizes local human and physical resources, and can be maintained and adapted by local authorities after the experts have left. I admit 17 Working with Nature to Preserve Site and Landscape at Gordion Naomi F. Miller 244 THE arCHaEoLoGy of pHryGIan GordIon, royaL CITy of MIdas that this part of our plan at Gordion remains unproven , but many of the villagers at Gordion already are experienced farmers and gardeners who understand the regional climate and soils. With orientation and some training, a local labor force could be developed. Opportunities Actively managing plantings and vegetation has a direct benefit for site preservation, but also creates opportunities that go well beyond that narrow mission . The native steppe vegetation of central Anatolia has supported wildlife and domestic flocks for millennia. Biodiversity is high for an arid region, and the healthy steppe has a solid cover of plants that prevents erosion, absorbs light and heat from the sun, and helps maintain the water table. Overgrazing is one problem, but both agricultural and urban development consume land that would otherwise support dense vegetation. The archaeological precinct provides a protected expanse of terrain that can serve as a refuge for rare and interesting plants. Admittedly, the beauty of the native steppe vegetation is subtle, and most people prefer to look at trees, but visitors can be guided into an appreciation of the central Anatolian steppe. With the native steppe established, environmental education can teach both schoolchildren and adults to value the biodiversity in their own backyard—for its ecosystem “services,” its potential economic and aesthetic values, and as a way to begin to understand the daily lives and surroundings of the ancient inhabitants of Gordion. In addition to the indirect touristic benefits of mound and site stabilization...