Textile Membrane Structure for Exposure and Protection of Prehistoric Site Yunatsite

Tell Yunatsite is one of the most imposing prehistoric sites in Europe. It is a unique example of a site that has been inhabited for more than six thousand years. Work on site began in 1939 and continues up until now. The main challenge of archeological excavations was how to conserve, protect and expose different archeological layers. A prestressed textile membrane was chosen to preserve the place where the prehistoric structures are exhibited in situ. The footing should withstand the membrane forces, without violating the historic layers below. The imbedded tetrapod ensures temporariness and reversibility in the context of the prehistoric layering. The 3D elasto-plastic model calculation provides realistic data for estimating the tetrapods footing bearing capacity and the membrane deflection induced by the soil and the steel elements deformations. This case study defines some of the problems related to membrane footing and provides a solution capable of ensuring stability and robustness of the structure.