A FANTASY IN CENTRAL ANATOLIAN ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE: DOVE COTES AND TOWERS IN KAYSERİ

Central Anatolia is well-known mostly for its natural landscape, and especially Cappadocia's volcanic chimney-like structures that create a dreamlike atmosphere by blending nature with history in a dramatic fashion. These structures housed many people for millenniums, and are still in use today. Less is known however, about another type of landscape just neighboring the Cappadocia region. Hundreds of large tower-like stone structures are scattered around the landscape just outside the town of Gesi, in Kayseri, Turkey; they are dove cotes, reflecting an ancient tradition of Anatolia. In this article, we would like to describe this interesting landscape, and examine these structures mainly from an architectural point of view. VOLCANOES, TUFA ROCKS AND ROCK-HEWN SPACES OF CENTRAL ANATOLIA Volcanoes in central Anatolia and the tufa rocks they had erupted are the main causes of interesting land formations as well as the creation of underground spaces. Landscape often resembles that of a lunar one, especially in Cappadocia, and underground spaces are fascinating surprises for those who visit the region for the first time. Such spaces range from simple caves, dove cotes and animal shelters to dwellings, churches, monasteries and even underground cities. Since tufa rocks are relatively soft, they are easily hewn and can be turned into a room or a house, a storage space, a barn or a public hall. They are generally combined with traditional stone masonry structures in front or nearby to fit to the surrounding fabric. Dove cotes or pigeon lofts were inseparable parts of such landscapes for long periods of time, be it near the villages of Cappadocia or towns like Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar; in valleys like Ihlara, Derevenk or Salkuma, the cliffs or ridges of hills are all filled with dove cotes. Such cotes on high elevations helped doves to nest and populate in safety and in turn they produced lots of manure, which accumulated on the hillside grounds to be collected and used as fertilizers in local vegetable fields and vineyards. The historical city of Kayseri had a belt of vineyards and orchards around it. Native people used to - and some of them still do - move to these areas during summers, spending four to five months (İmamoğlu, 2001). This belt includes some villages as well as scattered summer resort houses within vineyards, distributed in a large land; on the northern skirts of Mount Erciyes (Argeus) and higher elevations in other directions. Depending on the suitability of the land one may come across dove cotes and dove towers in these summer resorts. Talas, Tavlusun, Derevenk, Gesi, Efkere, Darsiyah, Nize, Mancusun, Isbıdın, Vekse, and Ağırnas all have such structures created in different time periods. People in such locations throughout history have been keeping and breeding doves and other kinds of birds. Doves, besides their peaceful nature, provide feather and meat for people, kill insects that are harmful to crops, fertilize the ground and especially vineyards, vegetable and melon fields. Hence, they contribute to sustain the ecological balance within the regions they live. Doves and other birds, like in many other regions, attracted the attention of people in Asia Minor for ages. Breeding and feeding them sometimes went far beyond a hobby and became a full-time occupation for some (İmamoğlu, 2001). This habit or custom engaged quite a number of people and influenced their aesthetic values, extending the dimensions of love and interest into other creatures. Today, although it is not as popular as it used to be, bird-keeping and racing still survive in Şanlıurfa and Kayseri like in many other towns in Turkey and in other countries. In Şanlıurfa, for example, some doves are considered very valuable; they are lovingly looked after, and their ankles are dressed with pearls and golden rings. They live in specially built birdhouses created on the higher elevations of dwellings. Although their function as mail or message deliverers has disappeared, dove races and training still attract considerable audience as an important social, cultural and sportive event in the locality. Another interesting dimension related to birds in Anatolian culture is the use of miniature birdhouses built on street fountains, mosques, madrasas, inns, libraries or house facades. These are tiny, decorative kiosks located in a strategic position on the walls providing shelter for birds. They are colourful expressions of love and affection people feel for birds since very early history (Akay, 2004; Altıntaş, 2001; Barışta, 2000; Önge,1977).