Abstract
AbstractIn Cappadocia (central Turkey), routes that were only of a secondary importance during the Roman age acquired a new relevance starting from the end of the 7th century. In this framework, to what extent did the archaeological evidence match the picture recalled by the written sources? To address this question, the relationship between movement and visibility was considered and view shed analyses were conducted from targeted and strategic spots set along the routes considered. This allowed to better understand the role and the different functions of those axes crossing Cappadocia, and to evaluate the Byzantine/Arab military strategies in central Anatolia.
Highlights
Within the framework of the road system of Byzantine Cappadocia, the regional network of communication seems to have remained almost constant, with no substantial alterations over the course of the centuries, with respect to the system developed during the Roman period.1as far as we can ascertain on the basis of the archaeological data available and of the written sources, some modifications and different choices of itinerary can clearly be identified at a more local level
This paper aimed at answering the following questions: to what extent did the central Cappadocian fortresses match the picture recalled by the written sources? To what extent did they face the needs derived from the new offensive/defensive strategy? What kind of control did they exercise over that frontier territory, and which was the relationship established between the fortresses and the routes crossing the volcanic district of Melendiz Dağları, Hasan Dağı and Göllü Dağı?
The results obtained through the application of the binary viewshed analysis confirmed that the Cappadocian fortresses were effectively built in strategic positions, overlooking and controlling significant stretches of the routes running especially across Hasan Dağı, Keçiboydoran Dağı, Melendiz Dağları and Göllü Dağı, and, to a lesser extent, along the southern slopes of those same mountains
Summary
As far as we can ascertain on the basis of the archaeological data available and of the written sources, some modifications and different choices of itinerary can clearly be identified at a more local level. Where it was possible and permitted by the morphological characters of the landscape, certain routes, which were only alternatives or of a secondary importance during the Roman period, acquired a new and relevant role.
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