AMED - Selma Aslan, Co-Chair of the Amed Branch of the Chamber of Architects, who examined the "Second Walls" that emerged in the Ben û Sen District, said: "The remains should be intervened correctly and conservation work should be done."

 

Reactions are rising against the fact that the new historical remains unearthed under the rubble of the Ben û Sen District, which was destroyed under the name of "urban transformation" in the Yenişehir district of Amed, are covered with soil and concrete by the Metropolitan Municipality employees. Selma Aslan, Co-Chair of the Amed Branch of the Chamber of Architects, who investigated the area where the remains were discovered, shared her observations with our agency.

 

Reminding that the Second Wall has witnessed the oldest civilizations in the world, Aslan said: “We know that it is among the most durable walls of the world besides being old. It was known that there was a second fortress wall surrounding the Diyarbakır Sur Kale structure from the outside, and this emerged after the demolition of the structures at the bottom of the Sur. It is thought that there are no Second Walls in the section starting from the Inner Castle to the Mardin Gate, and they are not needed because the area consists of steep cliffs. It is known that there was a Second Wall in the area from Mardin Kapı to Dağkapı. It is stated by archaeologists that the stones of the outer second castle walls were used to repair the worn out castle wall during the Ayyubid Period.

 

'SECOND WALL SHOULD BE REVEALED'

 

Stating that the remains defined as the “Second Wall” wall should be taken under protection, Aslan said: “Landscaping design was requested in the area where the demolished structures were located and it was put out to tender by the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality. The studies carried out in this field are works and procedures subject to the approval of the Conservation Board, and therefore the project was submitted to the Conservation Board and perhaps to the Science Board. The Second walls in some regions should also be exposed by conserving (conservation) of these exposed Second Wall ruins and by conducting excavations. All these works may have taken place in the project, they may be part of the landscape project, if not, they should be included in the project.

 

'EXCAVATION WORK IS REQUIRED'

 

Aslan continued as follows: “We demand excavations to be carried out to reveal the underground walls. For trees preferred for landscaping design, tall trees should not be selected and it is important that they consist of tree types that do not shade Sur. In another study, we can say that the construction of irrigation canals that pass right next to the Surs is a faulty production as it will also damage the Surs.”