The Anatolian Seljuk Architectural Inventory Project (ASYEP), realized through studies conducted between 2007 and 2009, presents to the public—within a scientific framework—more than a thousand architectural and decorative art works built by the Seljuks in Anatolia.
According to estimates, the Anatolian Seljuks built around 1,200 structures in Anatolia between the years 1077 and 1308. These included castles, baths, mosques, hospitals, caravanserais, and various examples of civil architecture. While some of these structures, built in forty different styles, have survived to the present day in good condition, others exist only in ruins. The project was initiated with the aim of inventorying these structures and combining the collected data in a database made accessible through the project’s website: www.anadoluselcuklumimarisi.com
The project, composed of archival and fieldwork, had by July 2009 documented structures from the Anatolian Seljuk period in 45 provinces across Anatolia. Over 750 inventory records were prepared and added to the database. In addition to the architectural records, the system also includes a chronology of the Anatolian Seljuk period, a genealogical tree of the Anatolian Seljuk dynasty, and historical information about Anatolian Turkish states.
Another important part of the project is the bibliography, which provides access through the project website to books, periodicals, academic studies, and theses published to date on the art, architecture, and history of the Anatolian Seljuk period.
Although the primary goal of the project is to create an architectural inventory, the website also includes articles on architectural ornamentation such as tilework, stone carving, and plasterwork, which are integral elements of architecture. To support researchers visiting the site, a glossary of terminology is also provided.
The Anatolian Seljuk Architectural Inventory Project continues to grow through the addition of information on architectural, artistic, and cultural assets from the period. The project website also features announcements of current exhibitions, conferences, panels, and scholarly activities related to Anatolian Seljuk history and culture both in Türkiye and abroad.