Research Information System
Turkish Studies, no.16, pp.701-718, 2021 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Abstract: The building complex, which also includes the Church No 2b, our research subject, is located in the
Zelve Valley, 5 km southeast of the Avanos district of Nevşehir in the Cappadocia Region. The valley, running
from north to south, is divided into three branches towards the south, southeast and southwest. The building is
located at the upper level, east of the valley, extending south on the second branch. Life in the Zelve Valley
started in the 5th century. The population increased between the 7th and 10th centuries since the Valley was
sheltered for Arab raids. With the onset of Turkish raids from the second half of the 11th century, the Muslim
and Christian populations lived together under Turkish rule in the valley. The Christian population in the valley
started to withdraw due to the exchange agreement signed on 30 January 1923, and due to the rock breaking in
the valley in 1949, the Muslim population also started to leave the valley. The people were taken out of the
valley completely in 1954. It was converted to today’s Open Air Museum in 1964The Church No 2b overlooks
both te building complex and the valley. The church has a single nave plan. What makes this building important
in the valley is that the decorations inside have reached to today with less destruction. This is undoubtedly due
to the fact that its entrance is in an unprotected and high place. In this study, the building complex, which also
includes the Church No 2b, which has not published before, is handled entirely. It is aimed to introduce and
document the architectural characteristics of the building complex, to make its architectural drawings and to
present it to the world of science by documenting its present state.