Conservation of the Khakhuli Monastery: An architectural overview and future scenarios

Abstract

Monastic churches in the Tao-Klarjeti region have many unique features arising from construction techniques, use of materials, and land settlement. The fate of these medieval churches, located in an area close to Türkiye’s border with Georgia, depends on political negotiations between those two countries. While those negotiations continue, the churches should be documented and a basis for future conservation work should be prepared. This study examines the Khakhuli Monastery, a monastic settlement that began with a cross-planned church in the 10th century, as the historical structure surviving in the best condition in the region. An understanding of the formation of the annexes that expanded the settlement over the centuries is only possible with detailed documentation of the building. Archival evidence showed that the settlement was used as a monastery longer than previously believed. This study documents the construction techniques of the Khakhuli Monastery in detail, examines the causes of ongoing damage to the monastic church, and provides suggestions for conservation work. It primarily focuses on the holistic conservation of the Khakhuli Monastery, integrating structural analysis and social dynamics to preserve its cultural significance considering the international cooperation between Türkiye and Georgia.