Anastasian Wall and Archeology In Thrace Turkey

Change of Blog Group Name

2013-02-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

There is so much going on in the Thrace area of Turkey (the European side) of Turkey that I have been impelled to expand the scope of this web site. What inspired me was an article in mybyantine. Ruins of Forgotten Byzantine Port Yield Some Answers, Yet Mysteries Remain.

With this discovery and others related to excavations in central Istanbul, there has rarely been a time when Byzantine archeology has been as active.

Guest bloggers welcome

2012-01-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in the Anastasian Wall and want to write something about it, please feel free to submit a guest blog entry. Comments on postings are always welcome.

Oppose SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T06:15:00.000-08:00

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

Reposted from Google

Video Segment about Justinian I

2012-01-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

This is a very good video on the reign of Justinian. Absolutely nothing was mentioned about Anastasius who preceded and appointed the Emperor Justin who then appointed Justinian the new Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

This video is part of a series concerning the engineering marvels of the Late Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), but says nothing about the Anastasian Wall, also an engineering wonder. Justinian also restored the Anastasian Walls.

Why do we know more about Justinian than Anastasius? Much can be attributed to an excellent biographer, Procopius, who sang his praises until he was caught supporting the wrong side, allying himself with Justinian's general Belesarius.

The documentary about the Anastasian Wall (in progress) , which has been praised by experts, provides the background of this period, which was one of turmoil and one of the most interesting in Late Ancient history.

Amateur Video of Northen Portion of Anastasian Wall

2012-01-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting amateur video along the northern portion of the wall. This is one of the sections that is better preserved. One can clearly see that this was not merely a wall made of rubble, but carefully constructed. It is amazing that it has survived for over a thousand years. However, it could be destroyed by development and treasure hunters in a matter of years. It is a relatively unknown treasure of the Late Roman period, but very important as an indicator of the separation and dissolution of the Western Roman Empire and the accession of the Eastern Roman Empire (referred to by historians as the Byzantine Empire) that would not collapse until 1453. If you are interested in donating to the completion of the documentary on the Anastasian Wall, please contact me at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com and I can direct you where to send donations. Other non-monetary donation such as editing, comment, promotion and screening opportunities would also be appreciated.

Ecosystem of the Anastasian Wall

2012-01-09T07:41:00.000-08:00

Recently, I came across some images posted on the website Adventure Rider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443811) which demonstrates the diversity of human activities and vegetation near the wall. It is important not only to protect the wall from further damage by treasure hunters, but to have a special protection corridor for other historic sites, the environment and culture near the wall. Of particularly importance are wetland areas which provide feeding grounds for pelicans which annually migrate in this region.

For further information about the environment surrounding the wall, go to an earlier blog entry by Franziska Zemmer titled “Report on the natural environment around the Anastasian Wall” (http://anastasianwall.blogspot.com/2009/05/report-on-natural-environment-around.html ) and a follow up blog entry filed by Ms. Zemmer on proposed management strategies for the area surrounding the Wall (http://anastasianwall.blogspot.com/2009/05/wall-management.html .)

Looking for 'Angels" for Funding of The Long Anastasian Wall

2011-06-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

We are still continuing work on the documentary. However, funding is crucial to complete this unique project. Any level of funding is appreciated, but larger amounts are greatly needed. This could also be in terms of non-monetary services such as video editing, promotion, acccomondation etc. Please contact Dr. Michael A. Mcadams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com if you would like to make a donation. A PayPal payment address can also be supplied. This is a serious project done by professionals. Supporting documentation can be suppplied, if requested. If it is a significant donation, over $2,000, the person(s) or organization(s) would be prominantely listed in the credits of the film, given a private tour of the filming locations by the team and a special invitation to its premier in Istanbul. Logos can be included in the credits if for an NGO or private firm. Short advertisement clips may also be considered for very large donations (i.e., $4,000 or more.)

New Canal Between the Marmara and Black Seas

2011-04-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

Erdogan has announced in a press conference his "crazy" project (these are his words.) The canal as seen in the above picture is in approximately the same area as the Anastasian Wall. Althougth Erdogan states that the location is a secret, it probably not to hard to discern the probable location.

The overridding question is how this will imperil the Anastasian Wall and other archeological sites in the area. While economoic development is essential, should it destroy the cultural heritage of Thrace? This area also contains a unique ecology and habitats. One in particular, is the feeding and breeding grounds for storks. It will also destroy the village life of many in the area.

Go to the following link from TurkishNY.com to read more on this issue:
http://www.turkishny.com/english-news/5-english-news/53144-turkish-pm-unveils-his-qcrazy-projectq-canal-istanbul

Hadrian's Wall Development

2011-02-23T21:16:00.000-08:00

Hadrian's Wall is a window into the life of Roman Empire at this time. There is probably much we can discover about the Late Roman period by doing further exploration around the Anastasian Wall. There are several forts which have never been excavated, and therefore little is known about their configuation or the lives of the soldiers that were garrisoned there. It should also be noted that the British Heritage Funds spends 3 to 4 million pounds per year on Hadrian's Wall. Hadrian's Wall attracts 50,000 visitors per year and employs many related to the tourists that visit the site. It is hoped that one day the Turkish government one day recognizes the value of the Anastasian Wall. Go to: http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/02/2011/9473

Economic Adavantages of the Anastasian Wall

2011-02-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

Dr. Alexi Danchev a member of the Anastasian Research Group and Producer of "The Long Anastasian Wall" presented an interesting paper at the HSci2010 - 7th International Conference on Hands-on Science held in Crete in July 2010. Go to http://www.clab.edc.uoc.gr/HSci2010/Pdfs/334.pdf to read this paper. There is economic and environmental worth due to the protection of this architectural monument. Suppport the efforts to help preserve, protect, restore and promote tha Anastasian Wall by donating to Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1687680287/the-long-anastasian-wall?ref=live

Byzantium The Lost Empire-Part 1

2011-02-15T20:13:00.000-08:00

See comments for links to the other parts of this documentary.

Kickstarter Promotion for "The Long Anastasian Walls"

2011-02-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

The clock is ticking for donantions to the help the production team of the documentary. Any size donantion is appreciated. Remember, this is not just a documenary but an effort to bring more awareness to this remarkable monumnet. Go to the Kickstarter site at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1687680287/the-long-anastasian-wall to donate.

Helping us spread the word to others about this effort is also greatly appreciated.

A Comment on the Legacy of Anastasius

2011-02-03T09:22:00.001-08:00

The biggest legacy of the Emperor Anastasius was the defensive walls that he built from the Marmara to the Black Sea. What is often ignored is that Anastasius left behind a surplus in the coffers of the government that enabled later for Justinian to build Hagia Sofia and a large range of other public projects. He also negotiated a treaty with the Persians which enabled a level of stability for Justinian on the eastern frontier, paving the way for Justinian to reconquer some of the lost territory of the Empire.

Why is Anastasius not more widely known, as compared to Justinian? This could be attributed to the lack of an official biographer. Procopius, the official biographer of Justinian, documented his remarkable life. There is evidence that Procopius attributed some of the fortifications that Anastasius built to Justinian. He even made light of the quality of the construction of the long walls that was supervised by Anastasius by indicating that Justinian had to do major repairs to the Wall. The lesson to all politicians is: If you want to more than a footnote in history books, don't forget to hire a biographer that will 'spin' your deeds. Unfortunately, much of what we know about Anastasius comes via the prejudiced view of Procopius.

Reconstruction of Anastasian Wall

2011-01-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

This reconstuction is part of the animation for the documentary "The Long Anastasian Wall." This gives you an idea of what the wall looked like when it was built.

Fund Raising Initiated on Kickstarter

2011-01-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

The documentary "The Long Anastasian Wall" is now soliticing funds on Kickstarter. Go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1687680287/the-long-anastasian-wall .

The production team welcomes any size of donation from $1 upwards. There are prizes for the amount of donation, as seen on the Kickstarter website.

Final Promtional Clip on YouTube for The Long Anastasian Wall

2011-01-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

This will be soon posted on Kickstarter. (Double click the small screen to get a full screen image.)

However, if you would like to donate money at anytime, you can also contact Dr. Michael A. McAdams as michaelamcadams@yahoo.com

You can also go directly to the link on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPCtFs50ndw

A New promotional video for Anastasian Wall documentary (draft)

2011-01-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

Any comments are welcome.

Draft Promotional Clip for Documentary "In Search of the Anastasian Wall"

2011-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

We are making progress on a clip promoting the documentary. We are planning an improved one in the near future. Go to the following link on YouTube if you are interesting in viewing the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1Oe_1nyTc

As always, if you are interested in contributing in any manner--time, money, software etc.--please contact Dr. Michael A. McAdams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com .
This is not a profit making venture, but a vehicle to make the global community aware of the importance of the Anastasian Wall and its environs as a world treasure and worthy of being protected and promoted.

Possible Development Scheme for the Anastasian Wall

2011-01-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

At the present moment, the Anastasian Wall is relatively unknown. It has the potential to be a major attraction in the greater Istanbul area. The folowing website concerning Hadrian's Wall demonstrates a model of how the Anastasian Wall could be developed:
http://www.hadrians-wall.org/

In Search of the Anastasian Walll on Twitter

2011-01-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

Also, if you want to keep up with the news of the documentary on Twitter, join Anastasian_Wall by searching on the name.

In Search of the Anastasian Wall (documentary) Facebook Group

2011-01-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

If you want to keep up with the latest news on the making of "In Search of the Anastasian Wall" go to the link above or click the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_174798942553021&ap=1

Progress on the documentary "In Search of the Anastasian Wall"

2010-10-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Making a documentary, particularly on a 'shoe string' budget, is not easy. However, the firm of art_valentine, of which the author of this blog is associated, is making progress. In the next couple of weeks, the website for the documentary should be open and the promotional clip completed. In addition, we are preparing to place our documentary on Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com ) to solicit funding. If you are interested in contributing to the making of this documentary please contact me at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com Information about the firm of art_valentine can be found at: http://av-studio.eu/ . It is still under-construction, so bear with us.

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

2010-09-30T07:37:00.001-07:00

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

2010-09-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

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.