Relocation and conservation applications for the imam Abdullah Zawiya in Hasankeyf

The implementations aimed at relocation to a new area for the conservation and salvage of Imam Abdullah Zawiya and its surrounding cemeteries such as the remains of His Holiness Abdullah Yukanna, Seyh Sevinc, Seyh Ali, Seyh Sultan, and Haydar Baba located in Hasankeyf which are endangered by the water of the Ilisu Dam and Hydroelectrical Power Plant Project are presented in this study. Imam Abdullah Zawiya mostly retains its architectural integrity. Stones, bricks, mortar, plaster and stucco were used for the construction of the structure. The transportation methods were evaluated in order to remove the risks that may appear during dismantling, transportation and re-construction while also considering the construction materials and the construction technologies. The following were planned: the holistic relocation of the zawiya spaces that are called the turbe, minaret and entrance structures and which comprise the main spaces of the building group; using the relocation by separating into unit building elements, relocation for the method, relocation of the walls of the space whose cover coat between the turbe and minaret had been destroyed; numbering and relocation of the elements such as burials, tiles, etc. and integration, conservation, renovation of these elements in their new locations, re-burial of the remains that are located in other important pilgrimage locations to the baldachin turbes that were to be constructed on the foothills of the hill that is formed for the Imam Abdullah Zawiya; and carrying out the underwater conservation applications with regard to the currently registered burials and turbes. The Imam Abdullah Zawiya was relocated 2400 m away and 62 m above by preserving its authentic values in a topography similar to its original location and geographical orientation. The burials of the Hasankeyf locals relatives located in the zawiya site were relocated as per their requests to the cemetery area that was built near the new zawiya location. The Imam Abdullah Zawiya and other five pilgrimage locations in the district of Hasankeyf that are revered by the local community, were relocated to the newly built baldachin turbes; and this relocation was carried out with care while preserving the cultural values by sustaining the traditional visits to the site, maintaining the cultural continuity, and preserving the spirit of the area. The works oriented at the conservation of the cultural heritage at Hasankeyf by relocation were designed by taking each structure s structural condition into consideration as a result of the years of study conducted by national and international professionals, our scientists, and the experts of the relevant institutions. As a result of the information exchange with the international professionals, we have managed to contribute to our country s experience in the said technology and to the development of the project. The works oriented at preserving the Imam Abdullah Zawiya against the risk of destruction due to the water threat by relocation were aimed to be conducted according to the conservation ethics and principles. We aim to preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage by relocating the Imam Abdullah Zawiya to the Archeopark in the New Settlement Cultural Peninsula and relocating the other tombs to the newly designed baldachin turbes.