Friday, February 27 2026

Tag: Prof. Dr. Osman Özsoy

Was Öksüt Castle Once a Hittite Stronghold? Local Experts Reconsider the Origins of a Massive Rock-Cut Fortress in Central Anatolia

High on the southern slopes of Mount Erciyes, the vast rock-cut complex of Öksüt Castle dominates the landscape with a network of carved chambers, tunnels, cisterns, and multi-level passageways. Although long known to the local population, the fortress is once again drawing attention as scholars and heritage specialists revisit longstanding claims of a Hittite-era origin

The frescoes of the thousand-year-old Beşaret Church are in danger of disappearing

The frescoes of the thousand-year-old Beşaret Church are in danger of disappearing

The thousand-year-old rock-carved Beşaret church in the Koramaz valley, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, is in danger of disappearing due to neglect and damage caused by treasure hunters. Koramaz Valley is a valley in Kocasinan district of Kayseri province in Türkiye. Formed as a result of an earthquake fracture, the length