Mokissos Heritage: Reconstructing of a Late Antique Complex

Thanks to archaeological findings, the history of Cappadocia dates back to the Palaeolithic Age, the earliest traces of human life. Undoubtedly, it is possible to follow the continuity of life in different periods of the region through archaeological data. However, the most visible cultural remains of the region today, mostly examples of rock-cut architecture and murals, belong to the Byzantine era. At the same time, these cultural heritage objects are one of the main components of Cappadocia cultural tourism. However, unlike Lycia, Cilicia or Caria, evidence on Cappadocia's large cities and masonry structures is quite limited. Almost nothing has survived from the great cities or their impressive monuments. There is a need for more systematic excavations to bring to light the Late Antique and Byzantine cities, of which few remains have survived, and to evaluate architectural and archaeological findings through multidisciplinary research. The lack of research and excavations makes it difficult to understand an important period of the cultural heritage of Cappadocia.

In the ancient city of Mokissos, one of the Late Antique period metropolis of Cappadocia, established on the foothills of Hasan Dağı, the excavations recently initiated by our University and carried out with the permission of the Presidency of Republic of Turkey and the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism aim to understand the urban tradition and culture of the region. The project “Mokissos Heritage: Reconstructing a Late Antique Complex” involves the reconstruction of the bishopric complex, one of the important buildings of the city, together with its archaeological finds, using virtual reality. Within the scope of the project, firstly, the soil fill in the building will be excavated with archaeological excavation techniques, archaeological finds (ceramics, glass, metal, etc.) will be documented (photographs, drawings and digital documentation methods) and recorded in the inventory. Thanks to the architectural finds of the building, the parts of the collapsed piece of the building will be used for the reconstruction of the building in virtual reality. The archaeological finds will also be added into the 3D model of the building. Thanks to a website where the data will be shared, the digital reconstruction of an unknown heritage of Late Antique period of Cappadocia will be presented. The project is a first in terms of being a virtual reality project that has not been realised before for the cultural heritage of Cappadocia. Moreover, the project is unique in terms of the fact that the episcopal complex is the only known example in the region. 

Of course, it is clear that the project will provide important gains for regional, national and our University. As a result of the project, scientific outputs that complete an important missing link in the cultural heritage of Cappadocia will be published as scientific articles. On the other hand, the 3D model to be visualised with virtual reality together with the material used in Late Antiquity will allow domestic and foreign visitors to Cappadocia to walk around in a spectecular building like a man of Late Antiquity. For this purpose, a 2d-code for the 3D model will be produced and shared with local and national stakeholders in order to highlight Mokissos, where the building is located, as a sightseeing route in Cappadocia cultural heritage tourism, and will be used both on the website and on the guideboards in the city. The data of the project will also be used as digital educational material in both undergraduate and graduate programmes in the Archaeology, Art History and Tourism Guidance departments of the University. In the longer term, it is clear that the city recognised through this project will indirectly contribute to regional development.