City and rural settlement archeology in Cappadocia between 3rd and 6th centuries

This thesis study focuses on the settlements of the Cappadocia region during the Late Antique Period, which was a province of the Roman Empire. These settlements are located within the borders of present-day Kayseri, Niğde, Aksaray, and Nevşehir provinces. While separate publications have been made on the individual settlements and the architectural structures that constitute them, they have not been collectively evaluated. The aim of this study is to examine the characteristic architectural features and spatial environmental organization of the Late Antique Period settlements in the Cappadocia region within a comprehensive framework. The cities examined within the scope of the thesis are large-scale settlements that have attained the status of metropolis (capital). The architectural examples found in the urban areas are evaluated in conjunction with period sources. The limited historical data regarding rural settlements hinders a precise understanding of the definitive settlement data throughout the process. Therefore, in rural areas, the collective of architectural examples that bear the characteristics of a specific period within a certain environment are defined as rural settlements. Architectural structures that share similar period features, but are located outside the settlement context, are approached by being associated with their location and environmental organization. Two different architectural traditions, namely masonry construction and rock-cut architecture, have been observed in the settlements of the region. While rock-cut architectural examples are not observed in urban settlements, they are found in rural settlements where both architectural traditions are utilized. The surviving types of structures from these settlements include arches, cisterns, tunnels, and bathhouses for meeting and utilizing water needs, towers and walls created for security purposes, agricultural production facilities, and residential buildings. Additionally, examples of tombs, baptisteries, and churches represent the early Christian period structures of the region. The church structures, where the architectural features of the period can be traced, show similarities in terms of their plan type, liturgical equipment, and decoration. The connection between the structural features of the churches and the other surrounding structures indicates the presence of different religious functionalities. It is observed that the centrally located churches within the settlements are community churches, while in settlements where religious structures are predominant, they serve as part of a monastery. Churches associated with local religious cults serve as commemorative churches. Each of the Late Antique Period settlements in Cappadocia forms a synthesis of the Roman-Byzantine architectural style, along with their unique local characteristics.