East Gallery Documentation
and Conservation Concept

Location:
Nafplion, Greece   
Client:
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI) Athens
Completion:
Study 2016, Implementation 2020 – 2024
Subject:
Documentation, Concept for Conservation
Cooperation:
University of Heidelberg, Ephoria of Antiquities Nafplion, Ministry of Culture

Location:
Client:
Completion:
Subject:
Cooperation:

Nafplion, Greece   
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI) Athens
Study 2016, Implementation 2020 – 2024
Documentation, Concept for Conservation
University of Heidelberg, Ephoria of Antiquities Nafplion, Ministry of Culture

A particular challenge is the stabilization of the Eastern Gallery. The relics of the formerly vaulted chambers and the still intact – in Mycenaean technic – domed corridor are partly in danger of collapsing, i.e. the pillars between the chambers are shattered and its stone blocks are partially ruptured by large cracks. The conception proposes strengthening of the foundation to prevent the pillars and the corridor wall from further damage. Missing stone blocks in the corridor wall must be inserted and the gaps and joints are to be filled in by the proven technique of using extruder machines for sputtering in special mortar mixtures under high pressure. In a similar way construction of the domes is to be stabilized. Cracked stone blocks of the pillars must be substituted. One of the damaged chambers should be reconstructed with still existing stone blocks, the fragile edges of the other chambers must be stabilized. After archaeological research of the access situation, the provisional staircase must be substituted by a reconstructed staircase analogous to the historic conditions.