Embedded Histories: Socio-Cultural Dynamics and Architecture of the Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Datem (Tadım)

Embedded Histories: Socio-Cultural Dynamics and Architecture of the Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Datem (Tadım) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Embedded Histories: Socio-Cultural Dynamics and Architecture of the Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Datem (Tadım) Sinan Yılmaz, Korkmaz Şen This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8862121/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study focuses on the Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery (Virgin Mary) of Vank quarter in Yalnız village (known as Tadım today) 13 km south-west of the center of Mezre (modern day Elazığ) Province, built at western side of Uluova plain in Turkiye. In contrast to the earlier work, and in particular that of Thierry—including an inventory-based study—which has dated the monastery’s tetraconch church to the 10th century, this paper will argue for a reassessment not only chronologically but functionally within early medieval monastic practice. By integrating a comparative architectural analysis with a diverse range of primary sources—including Byzantine administrative records (Georgius of Cyprus), Armenian colophons, and Ottoman archival documents—the study argues that the tetraconch core dates to the 7th century, reflecting the early phase of Christianization and strategic importance of Datem. Moreover, the analysis of Armenian colophons elucidates the specific functions of the complex’s auxiliary structures and confirms that the monastery remained a vibrant religious and social hub through the 19th century. By bridging architectural typology with socio-political history, this article contributes to broader scholarly debates on cultural transmission, the resilience of Armenian monastic traditions, and the Byzantine-Oriental frontier’s long-term historical dynamics. This multidisciplinary approach provides a new framework for understanding how regional religious architecture reflects shifting administrative and demographic realities across more than a millennium. By redefining the site’s chronological and functional boundaries, this research underscores the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches in recognizing the long-term resilience and value of frontier religious architecture. Social science/Anthropology Humanities/Cultural and media studies Social science/Cultural and media studies Humanities/History Social science/History Humanities/Religion Armenian Monastic Architecture Byzantine-Oriental Frontier Jamatun Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery Datem (Tadım) Tetraconch Church Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 12 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 01 May, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 30 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8862121","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":635677790,"identity":"8eda5b2c-b788-4d20-8da0-74aa96260e08","order_by":0,"name":"Sinan Yılmaz","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA6UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACZjBpAcQJjA+AJA8fkVokgDiZ2QCkhY1Iu8Ba2EAkA0Et8u28Bz8XtklEy7fnH6v8mmMnw8bA/PDRDTxaDA7zJUvPbJPIbex5zHZbdlsy0GFsxsY5+LQw8xhI8wK1NEsks92W3MYM1MLDJo1Pi3wzj/FvkJY2oJZiyW31hLUwHOYxA9vSA9TC+HHbYcJaDIBarHnOSeTO4HlsLM247TgPGzMBv8j3nzG+zVNmkzu/PfHhx5/bqu352ZsfPsbrMBBghMYFMw+YJKQcDP5Atf4gSvUoGAWjYBSMNAAA6Og8rBIH1VMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Fırat University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sinan","middleName":"","lastName":"Yılmaz","suffix":""},{"id":635677791,"identity":"75113ef2-1310-4673-a74e-303a6468419f","order_by":1,"name":"Korkmaz Şen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Fırat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Korkmaz","middleName":"","lastName":"Şen","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-12 12:38:11","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8862121/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8862121/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108974808,"identity":"1f03c674-546c-434c-ad12-27966e2546cc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-11 10:53:09","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2500804,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EmbeddedHistoriesSocioCulturalDynamicsandArchitectureoftheSurpAsdvadzadzinMonasteryinDatemTadm.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8862121/v1_covered_5d7d44ae-2e9d-4a3d-83e8-490daf5b1810.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Embedded Histories: Socio-Cultural Dynamics and Architecture of the Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Datem (Tadım)","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"humanities-and-social-sciences-communications","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"palcomms","sideBox":"Learn more about [Humanities \u0026 Social Sciences Communications](http://www.nature.com/palcomms/)","snPcode":"41599","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41599/3","title":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Nature AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Armenian Monastic Architecture, Byzantine-Oriental Frontier, Jamatun, Surp Asdvadzadzin Monastery, Datem (Tadım), Tetraconch Church","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8862121/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8862121/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study focuses on the Surp\u0026ensp;Asdvadzadzin Monastery (Virgin Mary) of Vank quarter in Yalnız village (known as Tadım today) 13 km south-west of the center of Mezre (modern day Elazığ) Province, built at western side of Uluova plain in Turkiye. In contrast to the earlier\u0026ensp;work, and in particular that of Thierry\u0026mdash;including an inventory-based study\u0026mdash;which has dated the monastery\u0026rsquo;s tetraconch church to the 10th century, this paper will argue for a reassessment not only chronologically but functionally within early medieval monastic practice. By integrating a comparative architectural analysis with a diverse range of primary sources\u0026mdash;including Byzantine administrative records (Georgius of Cyprus), Armenian colophons, and Ottoman archival documents\u0026mdash;the study argues that the tetraconch core dates to the 7th century, reflecting the early phase of Christianization and strategic importance of Datem. Moreover, the analysis of Armenian colophons elucidates the specific functions of the complex\u0026rsquo;s auxiliary structures and confirms that the monastery remained a vibrant religious and social hub through the 19th century. By bridging architectural typology with socio-political history, this article contributes to broader scholarly debates on cultural transmission, the resilience of Armenian monastic traditions, and the Byzantine-Oriental frontier\u0026rsquo;s long-term historical dynamics. This multidisciplinary approach provides a new framework for understanding how regional religious architecture reflects shifting administrative and demographic realities across more than a millennium. 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