Archive for June 16th, 2016
Balkaya is cave central for this region of limestone north of Vize. It has been inhabited since there were people to need shelter and inevitably the more religious of the Byzantines determined that living under rocks was the life for them. There are the remains of settlements throughout the Balkaya region and some of the churches merit interest. Forget the usual arguments about dedications and which bits stem from which era – it’s enough that these still exist. For a while, they were used as livestock shelters. This practice seems to have been curtailed now.
1. Church 1, Balkaya Kayaya Oyma Kilise 1
2. Church 2, Balkaya Kayaya Oyma Kilise 2
3. Church 3, Balkaya Kült Alanı
4. Necropolis, Balkaya
Posted June 16, 2016 Posted by Adam in Uncategorized
General view of the site
The Archaeological Museum is housed in the lovely Nilüfer Hatun İmareti and may one day reopen after its extended restoration. To the west of the museum is a piece of ancient Nicaea that is being excavated. At the extreme north-west of this area (40.430578, 29.725142) lies the remains of a church.
Excavation with column sections
Much of the building still lies under the surrounding streets but a little of the columned structure has been exposed.
Looking along the northern boundary of the site
This is a large site and it will take time for each item to be studied. This looks like a small chapel at the moment but this may change as more comes to light.