Stratigraphic analysis of historic buildings : understanding structural systems

Abstract

A relationship between Architecture and Archaeology is easily recognised since the former is the result of human activity whilst the latter, Archaeology, attempts to understand past human behaviour. The study aims to highlight the importance of Archaeology in Architecture, particularly its importance in understanding the historical intervention a building may have gone through over the years. This proves to be very beneficial particularly when documentation of past interventions was not retained, or is not found or identified. The 'archaeological' study of a building known as stratigraphy, could prove to be important when making decisions about any possible structural interventions required. The study aims to show the direct effect that findings from stratigraphic analysis can have on proposed future structural interventions. It also attempts to promote the notion of incorporating archaeological studies as an important component in architectural practice. When intervening on a building structurally, one can take two approaches; one is to use the original structural system and the other is to opt for a new one. Each of these approaches would produce a different result. Is it legitimate to change the nature of a structure and the original structural system? Stratigraphy can be used to uncover which structural solution was used. Therefore, what would be the situation if stratigraphy is not used? Such points will be investigated in the study, in the light of interventions that have been carried out.