Byzantine church unearthed in Burdur to reveal unknown about Christianity

A rock church discovered in Burdur's ancient city of Kremna has excited researchers for providing information about unknown a previously Byzantine presence in the regionA six-gate rock church that is home to wall paintings featuring Christian icons has been unearthed in the southern province of Burdur's Bucak district. 

The rock church in the ancient city of Kremna was discovered by Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKU) Archaeology Department academic Hüseyin Metin and his team during excavations conducted in a mountainous area in the Avdanc?k village in Bucak district. 

Speaking to members of the press in the church, Metin said they made examinations and found the Byzantine church when villagers told them that they had seen wall paintings in the mountainous field. 

The church was discovered as a result of the surveys, he said.

"Surveys have been previously made in the region but the church had not been discovered. It dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. We did not have much information about the Byzantine settlement in the Pisidia region. The floor of the church has disorganized tesserae [mosaic work] and plaster. There is a grave in its northwestern part. There is a wall in front of a small cave located in its north. The church is covered with wall paintings and what the most important thing is that it is home to mostly damaged icons related to Christianity. The gates of the church have collapsed," Metin said. 

Metin said the aesthetic icons depicted the era of the Komnenos Dynasty as well as the Virgin Mary and the Three Wise Men riding to Jerusalem. He said the wall paintings also featured goat figures. "We believe that they were made by Turkmens in the 11th and 12th centuries. We will examine them in...