A Multi-Analytical Study of Historical Materials from the Old Armenian Church in Türkiye

Historic structures that possess cultural heritage value are important documents that convey the architectural understanding, material technology, and construction techniques of past civilizations to the present day. However, these structures are exposed over time to physical, chemical, and mechanical deterioration due to environmental effects, climatic conditions, the natural aging processes of materials, and human interventions. The conservation and faithful restoration of historic structures necessitate the scientific determination of the properties of original building materials. In this study, we aimed to determine the physical, chemical, mineralogical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the original building materials used in the Old Armenian Church located in the city of Çanakkale. In order to reveal the chemical and mineralogical compositions of the samples, XRD, SEM, Raman, and FTIR analyses were applied. The thermal behaviors of the materials were examined through TGA. To determine the physical properties, tests for unit volume weight, specific gravity, compactness, porosity, and water absorption capacity were carried out. For the determination of mechanical properties, compressive strength tests—as well as non-destructive testing methods such as the Schmidt hammer and UPV measurements—were employed. The analysis results indicate that the materials used in the structure have a carbonate-based mineralogical composition and that calcite-bonded systems are dominant. While the physical and mechanical data reveal that the materials possess a compact internal structure, they also indicate that microcracks and weathering processes may be effective in certain areas. These findings emphasize the importance of using lime-based mortars and stones compatible with the original materials in restoration works.