Dr Anaïs Lamesa
UKRI/MSCA fellow
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Room 3.08 in 24 Buccleuch Place
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Background
I am an archaeologist interested in rock-cut structures, quarries and related crafting practices.
My first degrees from Paris Sorbonne (France) are in art history and archaeology as well as history. I gained my doctorate from Paris Sorbonne (France), challenging the Ancient and Medieval definition of Cappadocia - region of Türkiye - and Cappadocians using written sources and archaeology. My first post-doctoral research, called Troglopie, has investigated medieval and contemporary rock-cut churches and related crafting practices in the Eastern Tigray (Ethiopia) : https://www.pamir.fr/projets-soutenus/troglopie/
Between 2022 and 2024, I was head of the Archaeological Department at the French Institute for Anatolian Studies in Istanbul.
I'm currently conducting a project (UKRI/MSCA) in partnership with the University of Nevşehir on Güzelyurt and its surroundings. It will look at the landscape context and construction processes of rock-cut churches in Cappadocia to explore their temporality and social dynamics in the past, as well as their place today as cultural heritage.
Research summary
Anaïs Lamesa’s research interests are deeply rooted in the interdisciplinary study of rock-cut architecture, particularly in Cappadocia in Turkey and Tigray in Ethiopia. Her work focuses on understanding the technical, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions of rock-hewn structures, from antiquity to the Byzantine period, with a particular emphasis on the interaction between natural landscapes and human crafts.
At the core of her research is her doctoral thesis, D’une Cappadoce à l’autre (5ème av. -10ème ap. J.-C.), which examines the historical, geographical, and archaeological aspects of Cappadocia's troglodytic practices. This interdisciplinary study investigates the technological processes involved in the construction of rock-hewn sites, such as churches and tombs, shedding light on the labour, techniques, and materials used. She explores how these architectural forms not only served practical and religious purposes but also reflected the socio-economic structures of their time.
Her work goes beyond the technical aspects of construction to explore broader historical and cultural questions. For instance, she is particularly interested in the ways rock-cut architecture reveals insights into the communities that built and used these spaces. Her research highlights the connection between these structures and the socio-religious identities of Christian communities, particularly in regions like Cappadocia, which was a significant centre of early Christian monasticism and pilgrimage.
A central theme in Anaïs Lamesa’s research is the chaîne opératoire of stone-cutting techniques. This approach involves analysing the step-by-step processes of quarrying, cutting, and constructing rock-hewn monuments to understand the technical expertise and organizational structures behind these efforts. Her co-edited volume, Echoes of Stone Crafting, from Quarries to Rock-Cut Monuments (2023), exemplifies this approach, emphasizing how the technical study of stone-working can illuminate broader economic and cultural dynamics. By studying the methods used to carve rock, she and her collaborators aim to reconstruct the technological history and work systems that shaped these monumental landscapes.
Anaïs Lamesa has also led significant international research projects that expand on her interests in rock-cut architecture. One of the most notable is the Troglopie project, which investigates rock-hewn churches in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. This project, funded by the CNRS and other international bodies, seeks to understand the religious, cultural, and technical aspects of these Ethiopian churches, situating them within a broader socio-historical context. Through fieldwork and technical analysis, her research has contributed to a deeper understanding of the role these churches played in shaping religious identity and community cohesion in the region.
Through her work, Lamesa continues to advance the study of rock-hewn architecture, combining technological, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives to explore how these structures reflect the societies that created them.
Current research interests
Her current project, Rock-cut Architecture and Christian Communities in Turkey, from Antiquity to 1923 (RACCTURK), funded by the UKRI-Horizon Europe Guarantee, investigates the historical evolution of Christian communities through their rock-hewn architectural heritage in Turkey. This project exemplifies her interdisciplinary approach, blending archaeological fieldwork with historical analysis to trace the development of religious and cultural identities through architecture.Knowledge exchange
Anaïs Lamesa’s research interests extend into the preservation and documentation of these cultural heritage sites. She is actively involved in training local experts in post-conflict regions like Ethiopia to assess and protect rock-hewn heritage, showcasing her commitment to both academic scholarship and the practical application of her research in heritage preservation.