Characterization of mortars of some early Byzantine monuments in Istanbul and proposal for repair mortars

This research was carried out on mortars and plasters of building remains unearthed during rescue excavations within the scope of Marmaray Project conducted by Istanbul Archeological Museum in four different areas (West Shaft Area/ HMK, South Entrance/ CMK, East Shaft Area/ BMK and North Entrance area/ SMK) of Sirkeci Region, Istanbul. In this study, it was aimed to obtain the results that will form the basis for the determination of repair mortars with similar chemical, physical and mechanical properties with original mortars and plasters. In addition, being able to use the historical mortar and plasters to determine the chronological location of the structures and different periods was another purpose. Basically, it was aimed to determine the qualities, construction technologies and repair mixtures of mortars and plasters of the Early Byzantine Period. However, in order to be able to use the mortars and plasters in chronological evaluations, characterization studies were carried out on the mortar and plaster samples of the building remains belonging to different cultural layers and comparison possibility was obtained. For the determination of the quality and problems of mortar and plaster samples; visual analysis, simple spot tests, petrographic analysis, ignition loss, acid loss, sieve analysis of non-reacting aggregates with acid under stereo microscope, mechanical and physical experiments with SEM-EDS, XRD, ICP-ES and BET advanced analysis techniques were conducted. In the evaluation of the experimental studies, the properties and contents of mortars and plasters were determined, and the repair technologies and similar repair mortar and plaster mixes that were used in the repositioning of the building technology and the periods belonging to the Early Byzantine Period were determined. Keywords: Istanbul - Constantinople, Marmaray Sirkeci rescue excavations, Byzantine mortars and renders, traditional lime mortar, ancient mortars and renders, Analysis of mortars and renders, restoration - conservation