Promotion clip to be posted on YouTube for "The Search for the Anastasian Wall" documentary

A promotion clip for the documentary "The Search for the Anastasian Wall" is expected to be posted on YouTube soon. Watch this blog for details on how to access this clip.

We are seeking funds for post-production for the documentary. If you would like to contribute, even if just a small amount, contact the author of this blog, Dr. Michael A. McAdams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com

Blog Entry on Mybzantium Blog

Many thanks to Tom Sawford, author and webmaster of Mybyzantine Blog, for posting an an entry concerning the Anastasian Wall. This is an excellent blog that is the only one that I am aware that is devoted to those interested in Byzantine history and associated events such as conferences, trips etc.

Go the the following link to view the article and also to browse the website for other interesting things about Byzantine history:
http://mybyzantine.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/the-anastasian-wall-a-neglected-byzantine-monument/

Cross-section

The above photo is a cross-section of the upper portion of the Wall. There was a cut here, apparently for a road. It shows that there were smooth stones on the outside and rubble in the interior. The construction at times is inconsistent in this area, which will be shown in other photos that I will post later.

Wall Section near Black Sea

As mentioned in the earlier blog entry, a new road made it easier to see a portion of the wall near the Black Sea. As noticed, the stones are very well preserved, except for one part taken away by treasure hunters. (If you look carefully, the hole is where the stone was taken. This is known to be recent according to a reliavle source.) There is a bend here and it would appear that this is part of a fort. This is likely since small forts were placed when the Wall chnaged direction.

The Plague of the Anastasian Wall..Treasure Hunters

I have just returned from Turkey. During my stay, I accompanied the filming crew and the producer for the Search for the Anastasian Wall documentary who shot some new sequences near the Black Sea and a few other locations. What was discovered was that a new road had been constructed near the end of the Black Sea portion of the wall opening up some previously difficult areas to access. This section is very well preserved. In one section where the wall turned appears to be a fort. The bricks in this area show almost no deterioration.

Unfortunately, the new road has made it easier for treasure hunters to get to the Wall. At the before mentioned site, they had taken away one of the bricks and dug a hole on top of the wall. This was not the only place where we witnessed new looting activity. The wall is being destroyed not by the elements, but by these modern day vandals whose only concern is some monetary gain. It is imperative that further steps are taken to preserve the Wall so that future generations can appreciate the magnitude and the historic importance of this monument. I will post some selected photos on this blog later.

The efforts to finish a one hour documentary on the Wall still continues, as previously mentioned. This could be a major vehicle to bring to the world community the importance of this stucture and to aid in its preservation/restoration. If you would like to donate money to help us complete this documentary, please contact me at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com.
I can direct you where you can send your donation and provide you with appropriate documentation for tax purposes. Any amount would be appreciated

Google Earth File of the Anatasian Wall

If you are interested in locating the Anastasian Wall on Google Earth, please click on the following link:
http://sites.google.com/site/drmmcadams/wall.kml It should be noted when you click on this file, the following message will be displayed: "Page not found
We're sorry, but we were unable to locate the page you requested." Please click on the file below this titled "wall.kml".

There may be some errors due to datum, projections etc. when you zoom in on the area. Please use this as a general guide.

Absence of the Anastasian Wall at European Cultural Capital 2010 at Istanbul?

Some of the those interested in the preservation of the Anastasian Wall may be wondering why part of the documentary that the author of this blog is connected concerning the Anastasian Wall is not being presented as part of Istanbul being designated as Culture Capital of Europe 2010. The producer of the documentary approached the 2010 Committee in Istanbul and it was stated this the documentary could not be considered because Istanbul Culture 2010 funds were used for the filming of the documentary. As one of the participants in this documentary, this is a weak excuse for not showing the documentary. If you would like the documentary to be shown during Culture 2010l, please contact
Suay AKSOY
Cultural Heritage and Museums Director
suayaksoy@superonline.com

The website for Culture 2010 for Istanbul is located at

http://www.en.istanbul2010.org/index.htm

It is a great achievement for Istanbul to have this opportunity to highlight its illustrious past and its promising future. I do not want to detract in anyway from the activities of this time for Istanbul to showcase itself. However, the year celebration would be greatly enhanced if there was more public awareness about the Anastasian Wall.