The Morphology of Continuity: An Analytical Documentation of Vernacular Architecture in Phoenix Rural Settlements

Abstract

Rural architectural systems in the Mediterranean reflect a long-term entanglement between human agency, material conditions, and environmental constraints. This study uses this framework to explore architectural continuity in settlements near ancient Phoenix in Türkiye. While scholarly focus often remains on monumental ruins, it aims to examine how rural building practices, such as stone masonry, traditional carpentry, and the reuse of spolia, have persisted since antiquity. The methodology combines UAV photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and oral histories to reveal spatial patterns and craft traditions across generations. The findings show that structures are transmitted through technical knowledge, with stone and timber co-evolving with local livelihoods. By documenting the structural logic and embedded intangible knowledge of seasonal settlements like Fenaket and Büğüş, the study identifies a 'continuity through change' paradigm rooted in circular resilience and adaptive reuse, This study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that integrate digital documentation with community experience to preserve the cross-border cultural landscape of the Aegean region amid environmental threats and the decline in craftsmanship, thereby sustaining it as a dynamic living culture.