ICCROM Mora Samples Collection
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Yassihuyuk: MRA-TUR-Yas001

Type Sample Item

Sample ID

MRA-TUR-Yas001

Sample Material Type

Mural painting

Sample Sub-type

fragment

Dimensions (cm)

Length
2.8
Width
2.1
Height
0.5

Weight

weight value (g)
3.78

Other info about sample identity

 TUR/AF/1; TUR/AF/2 [ labels glued to the plastic container]

Geographic Location

Country
Turkey
Place
Yassıhüyük - Gordion
Detailed location not available
no

Site/monument

Turkey (TUR)
Yassihuyuk
Gordion

Historical note about the site/monument

Located at the site of present-day Yassıhüyük, Gordion served as the capital of ancient Phrygia.  Sites dating to this period (prior to massive cultural shifts inaugurated by the arrival of Alexander in 333 BC) include over 100 tumuli from the 9th to 6th centuries BC as well as fortifications and a citadel mound. Of the tumuli, the largest is the so-called Tumulus MM (“Midas Mound”). Excavations of this tumulus in the 1950s revealed riches comporting with the impressive scale of the burial, among which were well-preserved carved wooden furniture, textiles, and ceramics, possibly once holding oils or unguents. The citadel mound likewise occupies a distinguished position among archeological sites of its kind because its original gates are still preserved to an impressive height of ten meters. At present, excavation and conservation continues apace, mostly concentrated on the Citadel Mound and defensive structures of Phrygian Gordion.

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordion

https://www.penn.museum/sites/gordion/

 

Further reading:

Sams, G. K. (1994). The Gordion Excavations, 1950-1973, Final Reports, Volume IV: The Early Phrygian Pottery (Vol. 79). UPenn Museum of Archaeology.

 

Voigt, M. M. (2000). Gordion: the rise and fall of an Iron Age capital. Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research57, 187-196.

 

Dusinberre, E. (2005). Gordion seals and sealings: Individuals and society (Vol. 3). UPenn Museum of Archaeology.

Date of sampling

Unknown
Yes

Related samples

MRA-TUR-Yas002 and MRA-TUR-Yas003

Other information about the sample

The three samples were inside a plastic container labelled “Gordion, Turchia. Fragment of mural painting, TUR/AF/1 and TUR/AF/2.” No label for TUR/AF/3 was found; however, this sample is referred to in the IC Catalogue. According to the catalogue, TUR/AF/1, TUR/AF/2, and TUR/AF/3 are described as “Gordion, Phrygian, 5th century” (p. 35, PN 1136–1138).

Photos/Documents (provenance)

Description
1. Megaron pebble mosaic at the Gordion Museum (photo by Carole Raddato, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gordion's_Megaron_pebble_mosaic_05.jpg / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Description
2. Architectural remains at Gordion (photo by Stipich Bela, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruins_of_Gordion_3.JPG / CC BY-SA 3.0)

State of Conservation of the Support

Good (sample can be handled)

State of Conservation of the Finishing Layers

Good (sample can be handled)

Inventory