In this book, rock-cut and underground structures of Koramaz Valley on the Anatolian Plateau in Turkey are described in detail. The valley; located in eastern Turkey near the town of Kayseri, has hundreds of rock-cut structures, in addition to several underground cities, and almost none of them have been studied before. Research conducted by a team from 2014 to 2020, resulted in this overview of all the rock-cut and underground structures in and around seven different settlements in the valley and aims for the physical documentation and inventory of all these structures.
The book studies cliff settlements, rock-cut churches, underground cities, and funerary architecture in the valley. These shelters are estimated to have been built between the 7th and 10th centuries and even the smallest of these structures offer rich details for architectural, socio-cultural and historical studies. The rock-cut churches date to the Byzantine Empire period and during the research period, over 400 of these structures were explored, surveyed, and mapped in the region and with all these historical and natural values. Recently, the Koramaz Valley was accepted to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. This book is of interest to archaeologists and scholars of built heritage.
Author(s): Ali Yamaç
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 171
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Author
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
References
Chapter 2: General Information
2.1 Geology of the Region
2.2 Caves, Rock-Cut Architecture and Civilization
2.3 Rock-Cut Architecture in Turkey
2.4 Previous Researches in Cappadocia
2.5 Kayseri Underground Structures Inventory Project
2.6 Koramaz Valley
References
Chapter 3: Cliff Settlements of Koramaz Valley
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Küçük Bürüngüz Cliff Settlements
3.3 Ağırnas Cliff Settlements
3.3.1 Ağırnas West Wall Cliff Settlements
3.3.2 Ağırnas Northwest Wall Cliff Settlements
3.3.3 Ağırnas East Wall Cliff Settlements
3.4 Dimitre Cliff Settlements
3.5 Vekse Cliff Settlements
3.6 Discussion
References
Chapter 4: Rock-Cut Churches of Koramaz Valley
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Subaşı Rock-Cut Complex and Church
4.3 Churches of Ağırnas Village
4.3.1 Ağırnas Underground City Church
4.3.2 Gilaburu Church
4.3.3 Gormis Church
4.4 Churches of Dimitre Village
4.5 Churches of Vekse Village
4.5.1 Vekse Church No 1
4.5.2 Vekse Church No 2
4.5.3 Vekse Church No 3
4.5.4 Vekse Church No 5
4.6 Churches of Ispıdın Village
4.6.1 Ispıdın Church No. 1
4.6.2 Ispıdın Churches No. 2, 3 and 4
4.6.3 Ispıdın Church No. 5
4.6.4 Ispıdın Church No. 7
4.6.5 Ispıdın Church No. 10
4.6.6 Ispıdın Church No. 11
4.6.7 Ispıdın Church No. 12
4.7 Discussion
References
Chapter 5: Underground Cities of Koramaz Valley
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Büyük Bürüngüz Underground City
5.3 Subaşı Underground City
5.4 Mimar Sinan Underground City
5.5 Ağırnas Underground City
5.6 Discussion
References
Chapter 6: Funerary Architecture of Koramaz Valley
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Rocky Graves
6.3 Pithos Graves
6.4 Floor Graves
6.5 Wall Tombs
6.6 Tumulus (Plural Tumuli)
6.7 Columbarium (Plural Columbaria)
6.8 Discussion
References
Chapter 7: Conclusion
7.1 Conclusion
References
Glossary
Index
