Ancient Ani  Kars, 2009 - 2011

Ani, which is one of the most important Silk Road cities of the Middle Age, is a place where cultures meet. The first marks which belong to humans in Ani and in its surrounding go back to the Neolithic Period; but its establishment of the settlement as a city reaches back to centuries B.C. This city could gain its character as a defending city in the second half of the Middle Age. As in Silk Road cities, the city plan of Ani shows the character of the city with three elements which have the castle (inner castle and upper city), Sehristan and Rabat. By the time, because of the increasing population, around the Inner Castle which was made by Kamsarakan kings, Sehristan, which was bordered by Middle City Wall, also extended to Rabat part where trade was made. In the time of Seljuks, Outer City Walls, with double principal walls, which had additions and restorations, forming the outest city wall, borders the city by comprising Castle (Inner Castle), Sehristan, and Rabat parts. (Source: en.wikipedia.org)