To understand the technological, aesthetical and symbolic value of the surviving timber framed walls and to plan their restoration and protection, historical documentation is needed. Archaeological finds from the 16th century BC (Thera / Greece) and the 1st century AD (Herculaneum / Italy) have provided physical evidence, and written documents of 1st century BC (Vitruv) and 17th century AD (Dela Valle) give analytic description.
Allusions to these walls made up until today help us to form an idea about the development of various timber wall types, over the last three one half thousand years. The surviving buildings were generally built after the 18th century AD. Some of the main characteristics of their static system and construction will help to identify the various forms of technology, aesthetics, materials and construction procedures.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. MATERIAL DOCUMENTATION OF TIMBER FRAMED WALLS
2.1. Forerunner of timber frames
2.1.1. Huts in Dispelio /Greece (50th century BC)
2.1.2. Sparse timber-frames in Thera / Greece (17th century BC)
2.1.3. Read constructions in Haimos (Balkans), Africa and Mesopotamia
2.2. Timber framed walls in the antique
2.2.1. Vague written descriptions
2.2.2. Excavations findings
2.3. The Roman Empire's era "dark times"
2.4. Timber framed walls around the 17th century AD
2.4.1. General description
2.4.2. Description of timber constructions in Istanbul
2.4.3. Sporadically surviving framed walls
2.4.4. Interpretations problems of historiography
2.5. Two centuries old framed walls
2.5.1. “Vitruv –type” walls
2.5.2. “Herculaneum – type” walls
2.5.3. Walls with diagonals
2.5.4. Walls with laths covering
2.5.5. The dense stud – lintel frame
2.5.6. Spare timber frame
3. TRANSMISSION OF TIMBER WALL TECHNOLOGY
3.1. Timber-frame wall technology transmission by Greeks in the early Roman Empire
3.2. Timber-frame wall technology in Balkans on the verge from Christian Roman Empire to the Ottoman one
3.3. Wall technology in Central Europe
3.4. Allusions for wall technology transfer during the Ottoman Empire
3.5. Claims of other researchers
3.6. Technical terminology as expression of state rule
3.6.1. Antique
3.6.2. Roman Empire era - Rom's rule
3.6.3. Roman Empire era - Constantinople's rule
3.6.4. Ottoman Empire era
3.6.5. Era of the national states in southern Balkans
4. TYPES OF TIMBER FRAMED WALLS THROUGH HISTORY
5. THE CONTRIBUTION OF INFILL MATERIALS AND CLADDING
6. APPRAISAL OF WOODEN WALL TYPES
7. CONCLUSIONS
Research Objectives and Themes
This work aims to bridge the gap between engineering and historical research regarding the evolution of timber-framed wall construction in the Southern Balkans and Anatolia. It seeks to document the technological lineage of these structures from ancient archaeological evidence through to the Ottoman era and modern applications, addressing common historiographical misinterpretations regarding their origins and development.
- Historical evolution of timber wall technology from the Neolithic period to the 20th century.
- Technical analysis of framing systems, including "Herculaneum" and "Vitruv" types.
- The relationship between regional architectural traditions and state-level political influences.
- Methodological appraisal of structural restoration and the preservation of historical timber constructions.
- The role of infill materials and cladding in the stability and typology of timber-framed buildings.
Excerpt from the Book
1. INTRODUCTION
The types of timber-framed walls have been the subject of research of many scientists in many countries. This is not strange, because timber walls were probably the first building construction of human beings. Forerunner examples of these constructions are the huts on wooden pole foundations in lakes –e.g. the excavation finds from the Neolithic period in Dispilio (Δισπηλιό) in the area of Kastoria / West Macedonia / Greece, but also the huts built during the Median / Persian Wars at Lake Prasiada (today perhaps the Lake Doirani / Central Macedonia / Greece and F.Y.R.O.M.): “a platform fastened together and resting upon high piles (ίκρια επί σταυρών υψηλών εζευγμένα) stood in the middle of the water of the lake, with a narrow approach to it from the mainland by a single bridge. The piles, which supported the platform...” (Herodotus, V16).
Similar constructions have been built in Colchis at the Black Sea (Phasis River) / Georgia: “their dwellings are constructed of wood and reeds, and are built in the waters” (Hippocrates, “About winds, water and regions” XV), in Bodensee / the Alps / Central Europe, the timber huts in Germany in the 1st century BC (Tacitus 1877: pp. 87ff) and all over the world, e.g. in Thailand. Also in the 20th century and till today huts are fabricated with branches or reeds in many areas of the world, i.g. in the mountains of Greece by the nomadic tribe Sarakatsanoi (Figure 1), in South Africa (Figure 2) and in Mesopotamia (see Chapter 2.2.3.).
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: An overview of the historical ubiquity of timber-framed construction as one of the earliest building methods, setting the stage for analyzing regional developments in the Balkans and Anatolia.
2. MATERIAL DOCUMENTATION OF TIMBER FRAMED WALLS: A comprehensive review of archaeological finds and historical descriptions, tracing the lineage of framing techniques from prehistory through Roman and Ottoman periods.
3. TRANSMISSION OF TIMBER WALL TECHNOLOGY: Investigates how construction knowledge and terminology were disseminated across different empires and regions, highlighting the influence of Greek architects and state rule.
4. TYPES OF TIMBER FRAMED WALLS THROUGH HISTORY: Categorizes and summarizes the primary structural types that have persisted for millennia, emphasizing the evolution of framing and infill strategies.
5. THE CONTRIBUTION OF INFILL MATERIALS AND CLADDING: Examines how different infill materials, such as stone, brick, or reed, influenced the design, stability, and construction methods of timber frames.
6. APPRAISAL OF WOODEN WALL TYPES: Proposes a qualitative multi-parameter framework for engineers to evaluate the technical and symbolic values of historical structures before deciding on restoration or demolition.
7. CONCLUSIONS: Summarizes the findings, noting that while timber wall technology has ancient roots and persists globally, its specific evolution in the Southern Balkans and Anatolia remains a complex subject of engineering and historical expertise.
Keywords
timber, wall, Balkan, Anatolia, construction, technology, appraisal, evolution, architecture, restoration, history, framing, infill, masonry, heritage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work focuses on the history, technological evolution, and structural appraisal of timber-framed walls in the Southern Balkans and Anatolia, covering a period from antiquity to the modern era.
Which regions are primarily analyzed in this study?
The research centers on the Southern Balkans and Anatolia, while providing comparisons with Central Europe, Italy, and ancient sites to contextualize the development of timber-frame wall types.
What is the central research question?
The study explores how these timber-framed wall types evolved and persisted over time, questioning the ability to identify specific "origins" and arguing for a more integrated approach between engineering and historical documentation.
What scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a morphological and typological analysis, relying on archaeological evidence, historical texts, and a proposed multi-parameter equation for evaluating the restoration potential of historical structures.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the archaeological foundations of timber frames, the impact of the Roman and Ottoman empires on construction techniques, terminology evolution, and the classification of various wall types based on infill materials.
Which keywords define the scope of this work?
Key terms include timber, wall, Balkan, Anatolia, construction, technology, appraisal, evolution, architecture, and restoration.
Why are the Roman Empire's "dark times" significant for this research?
The author labels this period "dark times" because there are very few archaeological findings or written descriptions of timber construction, complicating the task of tracking the continuity of wall types between the 1st century AD and the Ottoman era.
What is the significance of the "Herculaneum" wall type?
The "Herculaneum" type, characterized by horizontal and vertical bars with infill, is identified as a persistent and standardized form of timber framing that has remained in use for at least 2,000 years across the studied regions.
How does the author interpret the term "Istanbulian practice"?
The author discusses this term in relation to wall types with laths or no infill, suggesting that while some researchers link it specifically to Turkish influence, it should be examined in comparison with similar cladding practices in Western and Northern Europe.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr.civ. eng. Nikolaos Hatzitrifon (Autor), 2016, History of timber-framed walls in the Southern Balkans and Anatolia, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/334414
