Located in central Anatolia, Cappadocia (Republic of Türkiye) features a landscape shaped by the long-term erosion of its tuff plateau, resulting in a variety of unique rock formations. In 1985 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the “Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia.” From the 2nd century AD onward, as Christians began to settle in the region, they carved out more than a thousand rock-cut churches and monasteries, adorning their interior walls with mural paintings.

This project is a collaborative research initiative focused on the conservation and restoration of the wall paintings in the Church of St. Michael at the Keşlik Monastery, located in Cappadocia. It is being carried out in partnership with expert institutions and universities both within Turkey and internationally. Based on rigorous methodologies rooted in conservation science, and informed by data gathered through both humanities-based and natural scientific investigations, a detailed conservation and restoration plan has been developed.The project is being implemented by a team of true specialists, each with over 20 years of practical experience in the field of wall painting conservation and restoration. It has received high praise and considerable attention from local authorities.

This collaborative research has attracted interest from Western countries as well, and is now evolving into an international project. Looking ahead, the training of young professionals is identified as an important task, and wii not be limited to academic research, but will develop activities that will be of practical value to a wide range of individuals involved in the conservation and sustainable use of cultural heritage.

Keşlik Monastery
Cleaning Test in the Apse of the Church of St. Michael
PUBLICATION
  • Keşlik Manastırı Restorasyon Projesi Raporu 2024　（Published November 2024）
  • Church of the Saint Michael the Archagel, Keşlik Monastery, Cappadocia -Preliminary Survey and Project Proposal for the Consercation and Restoration　（Published March 2024）
  • Preliminary Survey Report in the Republic of Turkey: Toward the Establishment of Joint Research on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration　（Published March 2023）
BUDGET

Government funding for operating expenses; “Research on the International Application of Conservation and Restoration Techniques”