Anastylosis

Anastylosis (from the Ancient Greek: αναστήλωσις, -εως; ανα, ana = "again", and στηλόω = "to erect [a stela or building]") is an archaeological term for a reconstruction technique whereby a ruined building or monument is restored using the original architectural elements to the greatest degree possible. It is also sometimes used to refer to a similar technique for restoring broken pottery and other small objects.

Celsus Library in Ephesus (Turkey), anastylosis carried out 1970–1978

Methodology

The intent of anastylosis is to rebuild, from as much of the original materials that is left after usually thousands of years of abuse, historical architectural monuments which have fallen into ruin. This is done by placing components back into their original positions. Where standing buildings are at risk of collapse, the method may entail the preparation of drawings and measurements, piece-by-piece disassembly, and careful reassembly, with new materials as required for structural integrity; occasionally this may include new foundations. When elements or parts are missing, modern materials (of restoration grade) may be substituted, such as plaster, cement, and synthetic resins.

The international Venice Charter of 1964 details criteria for anastylosis. First, the original condition of the structure must be confirmed scientifically. Second, the proper placement of each recovered component must be determined. Third, supplemental components must be limited to those necessary for stability (that is, substitute components may never lie at the top), and must be recognizable as replacement materials. New construction for the sake of filling in apparent lacunae is not allowed.

Criticism

Anastylosis has its detractors in the scientific community. In effect, the method poses several problems:

  • no matter how rigorous preparatory studies are, any errors of interpretation will result in errors, often undetectable or incorrigible, in reconstruction.
  • damage to the original components is practically inevitable.
  • an element may be, or may have been reused in, or may have originated in, different buildings or monuments from different periods. To use it in one reconstruction obviates its use in others.

Examples

Greece
Anastylosis in Knossos palace, Crete, Greece, by Sir Arthur Evans

A primitive anastylosis was carried out in 1836 at the Acropolis in Athens, where the Temple of Athena Nike was re-erected from remaining parts. Starting in 1902, the Greek architect Nikolas Balanos used anastylosis in order to restore a collapsed portion of the Parthenon, restore the Erechtheion, and rebuild the Nike Temple a second time. Iron clamps and plugs which had been used earlier had started to rust and had caused heavy damage to the original structure. These were removed and replaced with precious metal clamps. When the temple was once again rebuilt additional newly identified original fragments were added. Currently, anastylosis is being applied to the Parthenon.

India

Several monuments protected by Archeological Survey of India have been restored, including Shekhavati havelis, Humayun's Tomb, etc.

Indonesia
One of the earlier examples of anastylosis: the Borobudur in Java, Indonesia

Early in the 20th century, Dutch archaeologists carried out anastylosis of the stupa at the Buddhist temple complex at Borobudur in Java, Indonesia between 1907 and 1911.[1] The Prambanan Hindu temple complex was excavated and was partially reconstructed between 1911 and 1953, also reconstructed using anastylosis method. The recent practice of anastylosis in Indonesia is the reconstruction of Kedulan temple, built in 869, the temple was buried under volcanic layers for centuries, until was discovered in 1993. The restoration of the entire Kedulan Temple complex is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.[2]

Cambodia

The École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) began restoration work at Angkor Wat in 1908. Between 1986 and 1992, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out restoration work on the temple. Bayon was restored by EFCO followed by Japanese Government Team for the Safeguarding of Angkor (JSA). Ta Prohm is being restored by Archaeological Survey of India.

Turkey
A monumental gateway Tetrapylon (built 200 AD), Aphrodisias, Turkey

Aphrodisias has several buildings sufficiently well preserved to allow such anastylosis: the Tetrapylon (1983-90); the east end of the Sebasteion’s South Building (2000-2012); the Doric logeion of the Theatre (2011-2012); and the Propylon of the Sebasteion complex (2012- ).[3]

Others
Anastylosis in the Roman Theatre of Cartagena, Spain

Proposals

The Buddhas of Bamyan in Afghanistan which were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 are under consideration for anastylosis.[5] Archaeologists have estimated that as much as 50% of the statues' material is recoverable.

It would be possible to reconstruct the Gourgion Tower in Gozo, Malta using anastylosis, since many of its decorated stones and inscriptions were retrieved following its demolition in 1943, and are now in storage at Heritage Malta.[6]

Following the recapture of Palmyra by the Syrian Army in March 2016, director of antiquities Maamoun Abdelkarim stated that the Temple of Bel, the Temple of Baalshamin and the Monumental Arch, which had been destroyed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2015, will be rebuilt using anastylosis.[7]

See also

References
  1. Stubbs, John H.; Thomson, Robert G. (2016-11-10). Architectural Conservation in Asia: National Experiences and Practice. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317406198.
  2. Ajie, Stefanus (17 February 2018). "Kedulan Temple restoration enters anastylosis phase". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  3. "Aphrodisias Excavations - Anastylosis". aphrodisias.classics.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  4. "Al Khazneh, Jordan". Archived from the original on 2012-09-11.
  5. Petzet, Michael. "Anastylosis or reconstruction – the conservation concept for the remains of the Buddhas of Bamiyan" (PDF). International Council on Monuments and Sites. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2016.
  6. Azzopardi, Joe (May 2014). "The Gourgion Tower - Gone but not Forgotten (Part 2)" (PDF). Vigilo. Din l-Art Ħelwa (45): 47. ISSN 1026-132X. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2015.
  7. Shaheen, Kareem; Graham-Harrison, Emma (27 March 2016). "Syrian regime forces retake 'all of Palmyra' from Isis". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016.

Sources
  • (German) Adolf Borbein, Tonio Hölscher, Paul Zanker (Hrsg.): Klassische Archäologie. Eine Einführung. Reimer, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-496-02645-6 (darin: Hans-Joachim Schalles: Archäologie und Denkmpalpflege. S. 52 ff. Gottfried Gruben: Klassische Bauforschung. S. 251 ff.)
  • (German) Gruben, Gottfried: Anastilosis in Griechenland In: Anita Rieche u.a. (Hrsg.): Grabung – Forschung – Präsentation. Festschrift Gundolf Precht. Zabern, Mainz 2002. S. 327–338. (Xantener Berichte, Band 12) ISBN 3-8053-2960-1
  • (German) Klaus Nohlen: Anastilosis und Entwurf. In: Istanbuler Mitteilungen, Bd. 54 (2004), S. 35–54. ISBN 3-8030-1645-2.
  • (German) Hartwig Schmidt: Wiederaufbau. Denkmalpflege an archäologischen Stätten, Bd. 2, hrsg. vom Architekturreferat des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts. Theiss, Stuttgart 1993. ISBN 3-8062-0588-4
  • (German) Michael Petzet, Gert Mader: Praktische Denkmalpflege. Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 1993. ISBN 3-17-009007-0; v. a. S. 86 ff. und 98 ff.

Translated from the French language article and the German language article 10 May 2006.

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