Meeting for Joint Research on Conservation and Restoration of St. Michael’s Church (Keşlik Monastery)
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, in cooperation with local specialized institutions and universities in Turkey, are conducting a joint research project on the conservation and restoration of mural paintings on the interior walls of St. Michael’s Church (Keşlik Monastery) in Cappadocia, Turkey. Last year, a research plan was prepared based on field surveys, and after deliberations held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and an expert committee, the project was officially approved for implementation.
In response, we visited the site from June 25 to 29, 2024, to discuss environmental arrangements that will be important for conducting research activities safely in the future. The discussions were conducted with the cooperation of Mr. Hatice Temur YILDIZ, Director of the Nevşehir Conservation and Restoration Regional Laboratory, and Mr. Levent Ak, a member of the Urgup City Council and Director of the Cappadocia Tourism and Regional Infrastructure Services Association. The discussions were very fruitful, as we had the opportunity to exchange views with the Deputy Governor of Nevşehir and the Mayor of Ürgüp. As a result, we were able to establish a cooperative framework with public organizations in the Cappadocia region, as they agreed to cooperate with us on the construction of scaffolding and installation of facilities for water and electricity in the church.
We will continue our research activities to meet the expectations of the local people and to contribute widely to the conservation and restoration of cultural properties in the Republic of Turkey.