Rock-cut vernacular architecture in northeastern Kayseri: Architectural characteristics and conservation challenges

Abstract

The rock-cut heritage of the Kayseri Valleys represents a distinctive vernacular tradition shaped by technological skill, social practices, and environmental adaptation. These systems, evolving from carved spaces to masonry and then reinforced concrete, represent both tangible and intangible heritage, connecting past construction knowledge with community identity and collective memory while adding to the valleys’ unique cultural landscapes. This study examines the relationship between rock-cut construction techniques and the topographic context of the Koramaz and Gesi Valleys. Using archival research, field surveys, and systematic documentation, it records settlement forms, underground cities, hillside shelters, dovecotes, and related production areas, along with their connections to daily life and agricultural activities. Through on-site observations, spatial measurements, and photographs, the research shows how these features are spread across mound, slope, and basin settlements, illustrating the link between geological conditions and architectural practices. The analysis emphasizes how these spaces were organized, adapted, and combined over time, demonstrating the deep relationship between geology, settlement, and material culture. The findings highlight major conservation challenges, including abandonment due to demographic changes, functional shifts driven by modern needs, material decay from neglect, the loss of craftsmanship, and unregulated interventions that threaten structural integrity. Additionally, the near extinction of rock-cut building as a living practice endangers the continuity of related knowledge systems. Focusing on both their tangible and intangible aspects, the study advocates for conservation strategies based on socio-cultural continuity, community involvement, and sensitive adaptive reuse. This comprehensive approach is crucial to preserving the Kayseri Valleys as dynamic cultural landscapes while maintaining their relevance for future generations