This study examines the concept of "urban archaeological accumulation" as a complementary approach to traditional object-oriented conservation. It argues that cities accumulate irregularly over time through uncontrolled stratification, challenging the conventional view of historical contexts as orderly compositions of objects. The paper analyzes the concepts of accumulation, stratification, objects, and voids through theoretical frameworks, conservation laws and regulations, and case studies of three urban voids in Istanbul - an open cistern, urban square, and ancient harbor. It ultimately discusses how cities accumulate and what intellectual tools are needed to conserve this irregular accumulation as an alternative to merely ordering and articulating historical objects.

1. URBAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION AS A
COMPLEMENTARY NOTION TO THE ‘OBJECT-ORIENTED
CONSERVATION’ APPROACH
ABSTRACT
This study problematizes the argument that the intellectual foundations of the
discipline of conservation focus on the objects -built formations at different scales-.
The impact of this ‘object-centred perception’ is also observed in the conservation
decisions regarding the historical environment. Historical context is conceived as a
regular whole consisting of objects in the field of conservation which takes the
responsibility of transmitting the cultural heritage to successive generations, and its
preservation by articulation to the city that is also tackled as a regular unity -
preservation by revitalizing” as a contemporary motto- is aimed. In the study, the
approach of putting things into order that is a determining aspect in the relationship
between the discipline of conservation and the environment is questioned based on
the argument that urban development and accumulation do not occur in a regular
manner. The irregular and uncontrolled stratification of cities is delineated by the
concept of accumulation while the notion of layer is discussed in terms of its
difference from accumulation. While this process of accumulation is materialized in
every part of the city, its ramifications in the urban voids are elucidated here. The
urban voids, which do not accommodate any object today, are analysed in regard to
the archaeological and social accumulations that had taken place and have still been
ongoing today in these voids.
The issue of the “conservation of urban accumulation” is tackled in accordance with
the concepts of ‘archaeology, object and void’ in the study. Following the
introduction, the meaning and content of the aforementioned concepts are scrutinized
in the second chapter that constitutes the theoretical foundation of the study. The
concept of accumulation is primarily investigated focusing on sub-ground in the scope
of archaeology. While the objects within the accumulation are handled as objects of
preservation, the voids are tackled as urban components that are neglected in
conservation as areas in which the accumulation occurs. The same concepts are also
analysed in regard to legislations in the third chapter in which conservation laws,
regulations and decisions are discussed. The theoretical background and legal
frameworks of the concepts studied in the thesis are explored within the scope of
conservation charters since the majority of concepts and theories are developed in the
conservation conferences. Three urban voids are analysed in the fourth chapter which
studies the notion of accumulation in physical environment through case studies.
These functionally and morphologically different voids, such as a cistern void, urban
square and a commercial port, are analysed through the same concepts yet different
methodologies. Here, the subjects of the conservation of archaeological accumulation
in the urban voids, which accommodate different conservation problems due to their
unique contents, are investigated.
In conclusion of the study, which does not directly refer neither to the constructional
content nor the applications of conservation, the issues of how cities are accumulated
and what are the intellectual instruments for the conservation of this accumulation are
discussed. The assumption that city does not accumulate in a regular chronological
sequence may constitute a seemingly controversial rhetoric for the current conditions
of the discipline of conservation. However, such a complementary reading of urban

2. accumulation within the framework of conservation may contribute to the alleviation
of focusing merely on the endeavours of putting the objects of historical context into
order and articulating them into the city.
Keywords: Accumulation, Stratification, Object, Void, Urban Archaeology,
Conservation

3. INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION: THE NOTION OF URBAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
2. A RESEARCH OF THE OBJECT-CENTERED POSITION OF PRESERVATION
THROUGH CONCEPTS IN REGARD TO THE CONSERVATION OF URBAN
ACCUMULATION
2.1 Archaeology: A Research Field of Urban Accumulation
2.1.1Concepts of Accumulation and Stratification: Processes of Archaeological Accumulation
2.1.2 Problem of Conserving the Urban Accumulation
2.1.3 A New Hybrid Space for Conserving the Urban Accumulation: Museum
2.1.4 The Cultural and Social Role of Urban Layers in the Activity of Remembering
2.2 The Object: The Focal Point of the Discipline of Conservation
2.2.1 The Object
2.2.2 The Object of Conservation
2.2.3 The Object in the History and Philosophy Conservation
2.3 The Urban Void: A Neglected Field in the Discipline of Conservation
3. An INVESTIGATION of the CONCEPTS on “CONSERVING the URBAN
ACCUMULATION” THROUGH CONSERVATION LAW and RULES
3.1 Archaeology
3.1.1 Archaeological Definitions and ConservationTechniques: 1904 Madrid and
1931 Athens Conferences
3.1.2 Archaeological Information: 1990 The Treaty of Archaeological Heritage
Conservation
3.1.3 Classification of Archaeological Sites: (1999) Resolution of the Preservation
and Usage of Archaeological Sites
3.2 The Object
3.2.1 The Specification of Object: 1994 The Document on Nara Authenticity
Conference
3.3 The Void
3.3.1 Two Different Approaches to the context of Monument: 1931-1933 Athens
Meetings
3.3.2 The Surrounding of Monument as an Asset: 1964 Venice Charter

4. 4. An INVESTIGATION of URBAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION İN
ISTANBUL HİSTORİCAL PENINSULA
4.1 An Urban Void: Aspar Open Cistern
4.1.1 The Transformation and Accumulation in Aspar Void: Through Historical Maps
4.1.2 The Reflections of Transformation of the Objects onto the Aspar Void: Through
the Decisions of Conservation Councils in Istanbul
4.1.3 The Dilemma Between the Object and Void: The Conservation Assets of Aspar
Void
4.2 An Urban Square: Beyazid Void
4.2.1 An Opportunity on Archaeological Accumulation: The Process of Physical
Transformation in Beyazit Void
4.2.2 The Social Accumulation in Beyazit Void: The Spatial Continuities in Social
Structure
4.2.3 The Dilemma Between Destruction and Continuity: The Conservation Assets of
Beyazit Void
4.3 An Ancient Urban Harbour: Yenikapi Void
4.3.1 The Contiunity in Yenikapi Void as a Transportation Center
4.3.2 An Opportunity for Conserving Archaeological Accumulation: The
Archaeological Accumulation in Yenikapi and Potential for a Hybrid Museum
4.3.3 The Dilemma Between Object and Accumulation: The Conservation Assets of
Yenikapi Excavations
5. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES