BİZANS DÖNEMİ KAPADOKYASI’NDA EKONOMİ, ÜRETİM VE TOPLUM. ŞAHİNEFENDİ (NEVŞEHİR) ARAŞTIRMA ÇALIŞMALARINDAN BAZI VERİLER

Abstract

The University of Tuscia has been working in the region of Nevşehir (Cappadocia, Turkey) since 2006 for the research on “Rock painting in Cappadocia. For a project of knowledge, conservation and enhancement” by the permission and support of the General Direction of Monuments and Museums of the Turkish Republic and the Archeological Museum of Nevşehir. The survey in the region of Nevşehir, conducted between 2006 and 2012 following an interdisciplinary methodology, with the cooperation of art historians, archaeologists, speleologists, architects and geologists., aimed stratigraphic and typological documentation (both) of caves located in the area and at understanding the relationships between the Church of Forty Martyrs of Saninefendi and its geographical and historical context. The present paper is focused on the study of rock-cut structures located around the Church and on a Middle Byzantine secular residence located on the cliff of Orta Tepe, the so called “Şahinefendi Monastery”, characterised by a central courtyard, a small central plan church with three apses and several rooms (wineries, storehouses and stables)