EXCAVATIONS AT THE PALACE COMPLEX
Large and visually impressive, with two massive
towers and a passageway leading towards the Audience Hall, is
a truly 'Monumental Entrance' (Figs 1, 2, 12 and 13). The towers
are separated by a 10.50m wide stretch of stone pavement leading
to what we think was once a tall and elaborately patterned wooden
façade topped by a pediment that perhaps protected an elevated
walkway between the towers. This suggested reconstruction is
based on the evidence from monumental rockcut architectural
façades in the Phrygian Highlands.
The front façade, of which only the broad foundation
slot now remains, stood at the centre of the passage (Fig. 2).
A large double doorway permitted entrance to an inner section
of the passageway that was reduced in width by a small room
which was presumably mirrored on the other side. The 2005 excavation
revealed the location of a second façade at the rear of the
entrance (Fig. 8). A disturbed column base, an anaconic stele
in the form of a featureless granite block, and a drain set
in the stone pavement were also uncovered (Fig. 9). The stele
that once stood erect by the door had a neat square recess in
the pavement in front which would have been for offerings or
libations.
The front of the towers were massive and wooden
clamps held together some of the huge blocks (Fig. 10). The
front half of the broad passage leading to the first façade,
inclined at a gradient of 1 in 5, is paved with granite worn
to a polish (Figs 11). Setting lines in the front portion of
the pavement (Figs 12 and 13) are not parallel to the orientation
of the entrance but lead to the doorway of the Audience Hall,
demonstrating that the original pavement and the Audience Hall
pre-date the construction of the Monumental Entrance. Two square
sandstone bases, set back c.2.05m from the front of the towers,
have shallow circular recesses c.0.85m in diameter. They probably
supported freestanding wooden columns provided with sandstone
capitals. A rectangular conglomerate plinth, once one of a pair,
is preserved at the southwest corner in front of the façade.
It is now thought that this front section of the Monumental
Entrance was unroofed.
Pieces of sculpture and inscribed monument
were recovered from the debris in the front portion of this
monumental entrance. These include a statue of a human figure
and an inscribed block bearing small-scale relief sculpture.
There is no evidence as to exactly where they were positioned,
but there is no reason to doubt that they were set up within
the entrance and that they were torn down and smashed before
the fire.
The towers are rectangular, each measuring
approximately 15.60 by 13.00m. Their preserved lower parts were
solid. Of the internal arrangements and floors of the upper
portions nothing has been seen because of very extensive later
pits apparently dug by looters. The stone facing of the towers
comprise silver grey granite at the base with yellow sandstone
above and an upper course of white chalky limestone. Between
each course were large horizontal timber beams. As to the upper
walling, burnt debris filling the passage points to the use
of angular granite rubble and some mud as filling between timber
elements. Height is difficult to estimate. When the entrance
was put to the torch the timber elements, made of resinous Black
Pine, seem to have transformed it into a furnace attaining high
enough temperatures to melt granite and sandstone.