Ayazini Archaeological Site

Ayazini Ören Yeri is an archaeological site located within the boundaries of the İhsaniye district of Afyonkarahisar province, continuously inhabited since the Phrygian period. The site is situated 4.7 km to the right from the 27th kilometer of the Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir highway.

^{Ayazini Ören Yeri (}Türkiye Culture Portal⁾

Ayazini has served as a settlement for various cultures from the Phrygian period through the Roman and Byzantine eras. Rock-cut architecture is the dominant feature of the site. The rock-cut tombs, dwellings, and churches in the area were constructed in harmony with the natural topography.

The Roman and Byzantine rock-cut tombs feature single-room or family chamber layouts, some with two stories. The facades of the tombs include triangular pediments and columned porticos, housing arched sarcophagi inside. Some tomb facades are adorned with decorative elements such as lion reliefs and Medusa heads.

^{Ayazini Rock-Cut Tombs (}Türkiye Culture Portal⁾

The rock-cut houses in Ayazini were carved either as single chambers or in adjacent and stacked arrangements. Some dwellings are accessed via steps or internal tunnels. The rock-cut church, constructed in the 1000s, features an apse and dome carved directly into the rock and is part of a monastic complex, with surrounding rock chambers integrated into its structure.

^{Ayazini Church (}Türkiye Culture Portal⁾

Avdalaz Castle is a structure formed by carving into a rock mass to create a habitable space. Within the castle, multi-level carved chambers are present, and a deep cistern lies beneath the ground floor. Additionally, rock-cut toilets and storage rooms are found among the residential areas.

Ayazini Ören Yeri is preserved as an important historical and archaeological cultural asset and is open to visitors. The site hosts local tourism festivals, and admission is generally free.