Northwest Heroon: June 12-29, 2006

During the first week of the campaign, the northwest Herooen team was directed by archaeologist Ebru Torun (K.U. Leuven and M.E.T.U. Ankara), and assisted by archaeologist Piraye Haciguzeller. They began preparing the courses that still needed to be permanently fixed, and also continued to study the arch that spans the naiskos (shrine) opening, and the details of the roof structure. Another one of their tasks involved constructing the scaffolding and arranging the work area around the monument. Necessary materials and new blocks that needed to be carved were ordered from the quarries.

During the following week, the architrave, frieze and cornice blocks were prepared for their permanent placement on the monument. This involved carving the missing small fragments using the pantograph, sealing and/or stitching cracks, and the preparation of the vertical and horizontal connections using epoxy resin and fiberglass bars and matting.

On the monument itself, the temporarily placed courses were fully documented. The top course of the north cella wall was dismantled in order to solve a leveling problem caused by highly deteriorated lower course blocks. The southwest corner of the naiskos was also partly dismantled in order to complete the horizontal connections of the lower courses.

During the third week, all dowel connections between the architrave and the frieze blocks were prepared. All of the cracks in these courses were stitched and sealed, and fragments were joined. Two supplementary pieces were carved and prepared and one entirely missing block was fitted. Meanwhile, all blocks belonging to the roof were reorganized on the platforms. The excellent design of the stone roof slabs was studied and several fitting pieces were detected. A projecting ledge was discovered, which kept the lower edge of the stone tiles in place.