ALACAHAN CARAVANSERAI IN KANGAL, SİVAS (AN ATTEMPT OF DATING)

Abstract

Caravanserais, which are some of the most important monuments of Anatolian Turkish Architecture, are not only the buildings which provide security of routes but also the buildings which reflect the social status of patrons. Turks have always given particular importance to development and securtiy of Anatolian road system since they began to rule Anatolian territories. They built substantial caravanserais like fortresses between particular distances on the route to provide security. Alacahan Caravanserai, which is located on the route between Sivas and Malatya and frequently used in the Middle Ages, has been chosen as a subject in this study. Although it has reached today steadingly, lack of an inscription makes hard to date the building. In previous studies it has been generally accepted that it was built during Bagdad campaign of Murad IV. In this study, the building is dated in accordance with some architectural evidence and historical sources.

Keywords

• Sivas
• Kangal
• Alacahan
• Caravanserai
• Menzil