Table 1 Description and location of samples in the walls

M1

Sample 1, collected from Tower 41 (Yedikardeş Tower), is a well-preserved mortar sample with a gray color. It contains aggregates with a size of 4–5 mm and abundant white masses

M4

Sample 2, collected from Tower 42 (Yedikardeş Tower), is a well-preserved mortar sample with a whitish-gray color. It contains brick fragments with a size of 3–4 mm, abundant white masses, and black soot

M7

Sample 2, collected from Tower 42 (Yedikardeş Tower). It is a well-preserved mortar sample with a white color. It contains aggregates with a size of 3–4 mm, white masses, and black soot

M2

Sample 1, collected from Tower 41 (Yedikardeş Tower). It is a well-preserved mortar sample with a dark gray color. It contains aggregates with a size of 1–2 mm, black soot, and white masses

M5

Sample 1, collected from Tower 41 (Yedikardeş Tower). It is a well-preserved mortar sample with a white color. It contains aggregates with a size of 4–5 mm, sporadic brick fragments, and abundant white masses

M8

Sample 1, collected from Tower 41 (Yedikardeş Tower). It is a well-preserved mortar sample with a grayish-white color. It contains aggregates with a size of 2–3 mm, white masses, and black soot

M3

The given description is a solid structure sample of mortar, which is whitish-gray in color and contains mostly 1–2 mm-sized aggregates, occasional 5–6 mm-sized aggregates, scattered black particles, and white masses

M6

The given description is a solidly structured sample of mortar that is whitish-gray in color and contains 2–3 mm-sized aggregates, white masses, and black particles

M9

The 41st wall body is a sample of weakly structured joint mortar, taken from between regular cut stone masonry. It is light gray in color and contains predominantly 1–2 mm-sized aggregates, with occasional aggregates reaching sizes of 4–5 mm. It also has white masses and scattered black particles