THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH FLOOR MOSAICS IN KIZKALESI, MERSIN

Abstract

Kızkalesi Ic Kale / Inner Fortress excavation and cleaning work was conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, General Directorate of Monuments and Museums in the town called Kızkalesi, located in Icel province in Erdemli district, in 2001. Kızkalesi is located on an island very close to the mainland within the boundaries of the ancient city Korykos. After the excavation work, the Ministry of Culture has decided to evaluate the field in the form of an open-air museum. The restoration project of the mosaics that are discovered during the excavations was prepared with the aim of the in situ conservation.Mosaics form a part of the architecture. Therefore, if you have enough data, in situ conservation of the mosaics should be considered in conjunction with the architecture. During the studies at Kızkalesi, restoration implementations on not only the mosaics but also the architectural elements on the site were carried out. The project, started as a mosaic restoration work in this way turned into an archaeological site conservation. The planning of the whole archaeological area is a key factor for the sustainable conservation of the pieces