Geographic, Geologic and Human Factors Affecting the Selection of Church Sites in Niğde Province, Central Anatolia Region, Turkey

Rock type, terrain morphology, and proximity to roads were the key factors influencing the selection of church sites in Niğde Province during the transition from underground temples to above-ground stone ashlar churches (SACs) in the 18th century. The study reveals that the soft tufaceous geology of Cappadocia provided both shelter and protection, shaping early Christian refuge strategies and religious spread across Anatolia. This analysis, based on geological, geographical, and human factors, highlights how environmental conditions and infrastructure guided the evolution of sacred architecture in this UNESCO-listed region.

Bayer Altın, T. (2016). Geographic, Geologic and Human Factors Affecting the Selection of Church Sites in Niğde Province, Central Anatolia Region, Turkey. Journal of Balkan and near Eastern Studies, 19(2), 171–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/19448953.2015.1121006