Hitit Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Öz

Mahkemeağcin is a significant Byzantine settlement in the Galatia region, known for its volcanic landscape and tuff rocks, which attracted settlers due to their easy workability. The history of Mahkemeağcin and its surroundings can be traced through archaeological and archival data. The area was under Galatian influence and continued to host Galatian communities during the Roman Imperial period, evidenced by a 2nd century CE inscription naming the Galatian leader Ortiagon who lived during the 2nd century BCE. During the Byzantine period, the nearby major center of Ankyra (Ankara) played a crucial administrative and military role. The region’s economy was primarily based on agriculture and trade. Mahkemeağcin comprises a complex of around 21 rooms, including religious, administrative, and production areas. Grape processing and wine production facilities reflect the advanced agricultural methods of the Byzantine period. Moreover, there is a possible connection between Mahkemeağcin and the Legna station mentioned in the Tabula Imperii Byzantini (TIB) sources, whose exact location has not yet been identified. The site's proximity to the ancient road network suggests that Mahkemeağcin held a strategic position not only in terms of production but also in logistics and trade. The region’s agricultural and economic significance persisted into the Ottoman period. Ottoman archival records indicate that from the 15th century onwards, Mahkemeağcin was part of a foundation (waqf) established by Turasan Bey. According to the 1463 tax register (tahrir defteri), the entire village—referred to as Akçain/Ağcain—was allocated to support the needs of religious buildings such as a mosque, a zawiya, and a türbe affiliated with the waqf. The documents also record individuals such as Mihal, his father Yorgi, his daughter Gerne, and his wife Mariye as slaves bound to the foundation. These records reveal that Mahkemeağcin functioned not merely as a rural settlement in the Ottoman period, but also as a component within a broader religious and economic network. Mahkemeağcin is a vital part of Galatia’s historical and cultural heritage but has suffered significant damage due to natural and human-induced factors. The vulnerability of the tuff rock to weathering has resulted in the partial or complete collapse of several structures, particularly those exposed to rain and sunlight. These damages threaten not only the physical integrity of the site but also its cultural heritage value and archaeological potential. This study emphasizes the historical and cultural importance of Mahkemeağcin as anexample of rural Byzantine settlement in Anatolia. It calls for urgent conservation and restoration efforts, as well as further detailed scientific investigation. Preserving Mahkemeağcin is crucial not only for understanding regional settlement dynamics across antiquity and the medieval period, but also for enhancing the site’s visibility and integrating it into broader heritage and tourism strategies aimed at sustainable regional development.