REHABILITATION OF THE OLD BRIDGE

MOSTAR

NEWSLETTER    6                         DECEMBER 30, 2002      MOSTAR, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS

Sketch of Prof. Gojkovic

 

The most important findings of archaeological explorations certainly are remnants of wooden suspension bridge. The bridge was located on almost the exact place as the Old Bridge, and its resemblance with the sketch of prof. Gojkovic is amazing.   

 

Only the assumption that it was located downstream from the Old Bridge resulted incorrect, and having in mind that the reconstruction of appearance was based only on written documentation, almost five centuries old – we can once again thank to deceased prof. Gojkovic on remarkably professional and correct hypothesis.     

                                                                                                        

Quadrant on the right bank

 

RIGHT BANK

 

Excavations on the right bank of Neretva reached level 51.20 which is the height of 3rd row of dowels. Each beam is marked with roman number, and dowels that were inside with Arabic numbers. Prior to their extraction, each dowel was documented (inputted under a number into form as a special finding, photographed and geodetically surveyed).  

 

Until now, 13 beams have been documented. Beams XIV, XV and XVI are being carefully cleaned. Dowels from these beams are still in situ.

 

Beams no. I and II are in the wall which is the west profile of the quadrant; beams no. III and IV are in the wall (east profile of the quadrant). Dowels that are inside of them are still in situ and they will not be taken out because of their presentation; beams I, II, III and IV are in direction north-south. Beams V, VI and VII are in direction east-west. They are 2,00m long, 0,20m wide, distance between beams is 0,50m.

 

 

Quadrant on the left bank

 

Archaeological works continue from the first dowels towards east profile of the quadrant, thus from the beginning of the bridge, in order to get the cross-section on all dowels in situ, which was not possible on the right bank because of small quadrant dimensions and the lack of possibility to widen it.    

 

Calc-sinter (solid conglomerate) was found by the east quadrant profile on the left bank which is polished and has 3 stairs which used to lead to the wooden bridge.

 

Parts of beams were found which will be sent to dendrochronology.

 

 

PLACED BEDDING FOR STORAGE OF OLD BRIDGE STONES

Bedding design for storage of Old Bridge blocks

 

On 27.12.2002 dislocation of stone blocks from platform under the bridge to cemetery Semovac began. Stones will be preserved there and available to the visitors.

 

Previously, bedding was prepared on cemetrery: wooden pallets were placed on 5cm thick layer of gravel.

 

Dislocation of stones from the platform

 

 

Beam no. V has 9 dowels in situ; beam no. VI as the previous one, beam no. VII 10 dowels in situ. Beams no. VIII, IX and X also go in direction east-west; beams no. XI, XII and XIII in direction north-south; this layer of beams is placed beneath the layer with beams V, VI and VII.

 

Beam no. VIII has 9 dowels in situ, no. IX 8 dowels, no. X 7 dowels, beam no. XI 3 dowels, beam no. XII 9 dowels, beam no. XIII 2 dowels in situ. They all had equal number of dowels, but they were not all preserved, and evidently they were all the same longitude and width.

 

Marked dowels on the right bank

 

In the last level, with beams no. XIV, XV and XVI, wood was found (small piece of beam) which is a valuable finding when we know that wood ruins fast, as it is evident here, so in majority of cases only holes can be found where beams and dowels use to be. Wood is documented as a special finding and after tests it will be sent to dendrochronology in order to discover the age.

 

Cavities on location of beams, which disappeared with time

 

 

LEFT BANK

 

First level of beams and dowels was reached by excavations on the left bank. That level has been cleaned and while cleaning a metal cannon ball was found on level 51.25 (which is the height of the first beams of suspension bridge.

 

Flooring was located above the first beams, which is preserved on some places and left for presentation.

 

 

AMENDMENT OF ABUTMENT WALLS

 

Strengthening the abutment walls is a very important task before the beginning of masonry on the arch itself.

 

First the replacement of damaged stone blocks is done, then re-pointing the joints – in order to gain waterproof and solid exterior wall surface. Injection works are already performed on walls prepared in this manner.

  

Rough cutting of breca in Komos

 

Blocks of breca are mechanically cut in Komos storage and transported to the site. There they are being manually adapted there to the needed size and built into walls.  

 

Mixture for re-pointing the joints is compound of Calx Romana and sand in relation 1:2.

 

 

CONCRETING OF SUPPORTS FOR THE CENTERING IS FINISHED

 

At the end of the year concreting of four supports for the centering was finished. At the beginning of the year mounting of cross girders will begin, and then the centering itself.

 

Concrete supports for the centering

 

THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE

 

On 12.12.2002 the first official press conference was held.

 

As a beginning, the PCU, Supervisor and Contractor organized a short tour around the site and then a short press conference was held in the premises of Training center in Onescukova street, where the reporters were informed about the progress of the works and where they could ask questions concerning the construction.

 

This NEWSLETTER was made in accordance with prevailing articles of the Contract No 002/2002 about the Rehabilitation of the Old Bridge, by ER-BU CONSTRUCTION / TURKEY