bridge near bridge near turkish bridge arches late roman bridge modern south west turkey oldest arch bridges world located near ancient city largest civil engineering structure antiquity region spanning river length arches arches span rise ratio bridge unusually flat profile architectural achievement late middle ages today structure largely buried river sediments surrounded despite unique features bridge remains relatively unknown 1970s researchers istanbul branch carry field examinations site field examinations information bridge survives ancient sources descriptions appear european travellers accounts 19th century british archaeologist explore region visited bridge visited site years later describe having arches austrian expedition including interpreted structure ancient road connected city modern east mission failed produce plans sketches site scientific examination bridge undertaken german archaeologists successive days september completed visits subsequent years findings published journal express intent bringing state hitherto intact bridge spotlight recently citrus fruit plantations created fertile early vegetables built east bridge bridge greatly endangered beginning intensive cultivation vicinity locals strip intact bridge surface stones employed build irrigation canals rip structure apart crush stone pavement tracks civil engineer connor summarized report english language monograph roman bridges emphasized exceptional character bridge scientific examinations bridge known location situation bridge crosses stream ancient unknown east ruins distance measured city theatre north modern coastline close modern road local topography dominated foothills mountains blend transitional area bridge built immediately point narrow river valley opens wide estuary plain crossing river rain period high water eastern end bridge levels gravel plain western end directly rising rock wall mountain presumably protection floods resulting sharp bend course road exploited case need block road modern dam constructed upstream irrigation purposes flood protection contrast roman provinces possess developed road system north south traffic conducted primarily river valleys east west routes led unlike today mountain ridges particular road leading neighbouring region special importance regions united single province 4th century comparison main arterial roads roads width modest confined pedestrian pack animal traffic fact wagon evident paving bridge traces construction length bridge largest surviving engineering achievement antiquity bridge stands uniform arches consisting double laid course bricks eastern end original 27th arch replaced smaller arches later construction built single course bricks traces original flat beginning collapsed arch visible piers time visit site entire bridge buried river sediments line efforts dig undertaken arches exposed direct measurements clear span pier width undertaken possible dimensions remaining bays exposed sections architecture arches piers spans arches ranged arches respectively based size spans distinguish groups following median values arches nos fourteen arches nos arches nos arches nos reason grouping unclear certainly attributed attempt match lay river bed differences point repeated use differently sized structures construction barrel animation single case arches able determine breadth pier value common arch span clear span remains arches rise bridge unusually large span rise ratio flattened arches rare time stone bridges matched surpassed arch bridges 14th century italy largest arch bridge ratio greater spanning width times height later arches contrast ratio ordinary semi circular arches height total height bridge determined structure distance arches pavement surface determined surface level horizontal roadway lies height sea level arches falls slightly eastern section arches level indication later sinking structure nearly uniform height indicates careful existence solid pier foundations contrast axis bridge displays significant arch arch remarkably support line structure dead load identical curve vault arch analysis bridge proves structure great load capacity modern classification bridge able support loads class bridge din mean support vehicle arch additionally remaining surface arch load bridge safe ancient traffic materials bridge built composite manner brick rubble arches bricks arches yellow red clay mixed fine brick fragments bricks rectangular plates measuring thick placed shorter upright facing total thickness arches measures bricks bound lime mortar mixed brick fine gravel forming joints later semi circular arches built smaller bricks surviving bricks original arch places stones dressed limestone blocks form sloping surface support arches double layer technique facilitated effective use removed soon lower course finished construction layers double brick arches separate phases advantages phase carry weight lower course lighter construction second phase weight upper layer borne lower vault available use different arch superstructure far determined arches outer facing superstructure consists layers brick followed layers rough bound mortar contrast arches ramps end facing consists blocks repaired arches differentiated earlier work use smaller stones incorporation irregularly placed brick tiles arch lower arch features projecting bearing placement interior superstructure consists combination masonry blocks large river bound lime mortar pavement bridge surface located arches apex wide increasing end projects superstructure paved large irregular limestone smaller repairs arches dating exact chronological placement bridge difficult unique place roman engineering tradition lack comparable structures following characteristics starting point multiple arches width horizontal deck level small gradient ramps end flat arches built double layered brick courses use mortar stonework exterior facing primarily rough masonry interspersed bricks partly dressed blocks exceptionally large paving stones contrast roman stone bridges faced rested arches method dominant vaulted structures compared massive tall arched bridges typical roman architecture bridge flat arches offers markedly lower elongated appearance offer provisional late dating approximately reign emperor 6th century use mixed brick stone attested structures region hand mixed technique present 3rd century romans certainly knew build arched bridges attested surviving examples listed earlier construction date 2nd 3rd centuries excluded case earlier construction date strengthened recent years discovery seven roman arch bridges remnants nearby bridge river dates 3rd century architectural similarities bridge reinforce case
Bridge near Limyra