Cultural
Mosquées hypostyles en bois de l’Anatolie médiévale
Photo : Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This heritage site encompasses a collection of wooden hypostyle mosques found throughout medieval Anatolia, representing a distinctive architectural tradition that emerged in the region during the Islamic period. These structures are characterized by their interior design featuring multiple rows of wooden columns supporting the roof, a layout that differs from the monumental stone mosques of other Islamic regions. The wooden construction technique reflects both the availability of timber resources in Anatolia and the cultural preferences of local communities. These mosques hold cultural significance as they demonstrate the adaptation of Islamic religious architecture to local materials and building traditions, while also showcasing the craftsmanship and engineering knowledge of medieval Anatolian builders. The sites are distributed across Turkey and represent an important chapter in the architectural history of the Anatolian peninsula. The preservation of these wooden structures presents ongoing conservation challenges due to the vulnerability of timber to decay and damage over time.
