AKKALE CISTERN IN MERSIN-ERDEMLI: STATIC ANALYSIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT

The paper deals with the structural analysis of the ancient cistern located in archaeological site of Akkale in Erdemli (Mersin) in Turkey. The cistern, even though discovered many years ago, has been for longtime abandoned. Recent policy is oriented in reuse of the structure, as archaeological/monumental site, as well as to rehabilitate the architecture in order to preserve it. A team from University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and from University of Mersin, organized a surveying campaign for structural analysis and evaluations on existing conditions of the building, its material and structural risk assessments, since the site will be opened to visitors. Surveying activity of the geometry of the monument and limited analysis of samples collected on site provided basic and ineludible information to use in the subsequent numerical/geometric analysis. The Cistern is one of the biggest closed reservoirs of ancient Olbian region of Eastern Rough Cilicia from late Antiquity Period, realized partially buried in the soil, with a large roof supported by a double order of masonry arches. The analysis has been carried out performing standard simplified approach, but also comparing the results with more sophisticated Finite Element models. The results of the analysis are encouraging, and it seems that only limited works should be done in order to allow visiting people inside the structure. Further and periodical chemical analysis are suggested, in order to monitor the state of the material and the possible decay.