Structural patterns identified through a historical analysis of Anatolian stone constructions

Abstract

This paper derives structural patterns through the analysis of ancient Anatolian structural configurations built up by stone. Related archaeological sources indicate that ancient Anatolian constructions incorporating only stone as the principal building material are infrequent. Almost all of the walls of the dwellings and monumental structures were composite. They were constructed by combinations of stone, timber and mud-brick. These combinations followed some timeless patterns which are based upon the principles of reinforcement and counter-balance. These patterns guided the physical configuration of structures. Non-composite stone constructions have been arranged in a variety of ways following the same structural principles which also inform the formation of composite structures. It is also seen that combinations of stone and brick follow the same structural principles and this system should also be outlined in order to grasp a more complete idea of the underlying structural patterns. The objective of this paper is presenting a general framework for architectural students and professionals for conceiving a set of chronologically detached constructions within a common structural vocabulary. When these seemingly unrelated examples of stone constructions are reviewed from this viewpoint, one may infer a historical contingency through which traditional building materials have been interrelated. At first examples are analyzed with respect to their underlying structural principles, and then through inductive method and synthesis, general patterns are proposed. The outcome is the identification of the structural patterns of stone in Anatolia, which are traceable and comparable across different architectural cultures and traditions. Key words: Architecture, structure, pattern, tradition, stone, Anatolia.