YUMUKTEPE CANOPY

Yumuktepe mound located in Mersin, remains as a testament to a nine-thousand year long history of early human civilization. The site’s present findings are beholden to the hard work of the late Professor John Garstrang, responsible for the initial excavations in 1937, and the many archaeological teams who worked tirelessly on its ongoing findings, including Professor Isabella Caneva who dedicated decades to the site since 1993.

The proposed report conveys the principle and intention of a protective covering system in contributing to the preservation of Yumuktepe and its historic material grounds. The site will also act as an archeological park allowing visitors to meander and reflect upon the site’s history as Yumuktepe is progressively rediscovered. The proposed task of ‘covering’ will fundamentally serve as a preserving layer to the site’s physical state, protecting the ruins from the natural conditions of wind, rain and excessive sun exposure. Beyond its preservatory characteristic, the cover aims to demonstrate a deeper historic and symbiotic relationship with the site, wherein the generated sequence of forms reflects a composite history belonging to the traces of the ground, allowing for further expansion as more ruins are uncovered.

The west side of the mound currently in question for this project, will be reached from the main stairs located at the south east point of the site, acting as a gateway from the denser part of the site’s immediate urban context. Once passing the church ruins dated to about 1300 AD, visitors will be confronted with a glimpse of a “reconstructive trace.” This is the entry point to the project and retains a humble scale, as the protective cover slowly reveals the immensity of history in a gradual sequence. A suspended pathway will allow for visitors to meander through portions of the site to gaze upon the pre-historic uncoverings.

The principle for the protective cover put forth will consist of a light wooden structural system, in harmony with the material and textural quality of Yumuktepe’s physical tones, while retaining coherence with the primitive forms built by the previous civilizations, creating a rediscovering silhouette from a distance; an image for the city which conveys a familiar spirit.

The current project will be executed in close coordination with the Municipality of Mersin and the archaeological team in charge of Yumuktepe’s preservation. Determining the necessary structural, material and historical decisions alongside the archaeologists will ensure the architectural quality aligns with the archaeological intentions.