Some rock-hewn structures present oddities in their layout, far from the models shared by the majority of similar monuments. These particularities challenge and question the very process of their design. While a technical survey may explain part of these singular cases, a careful comparative selection of the available methods remains paramount to draw a complete picture of the progress and organisation of these peculiar worksites.
Göreme n° 4b is a rock-hewn church located on a ridge on the west side of the road leading to the Göreme Open Air Museum. The obvious difficulties encountered during its excavation make it an ideal case study. Its analysis sheds light on the choices made by the patron, the master builder as well as the workers’ behaviour during the digging phase. It also offers clues about the church’s occupational phases and highlights the changes from the initial project.
The combination of multiple methods provides different approaches to address the technical, economic a...


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