Canca Castle: An Early Medieval Fortress in Türkiye
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.4
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Turkey
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Byzantine
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page6 sections
History
Canca Castle, also known as Tzaniha Castle, is an Early Medieval fortress in Türkiye, located on a rocky site west of Gümüşhane. The castle is associated with the Tzani, a historical people connected with the eastern Black Sea and northeastern Anatolian region, who controlled the surrounding area under the authority of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
Early Medieval Foundation
The castle formed part of a regional center whose wider extent may be indicated by traces of structures around it. These remains suggest that a city may once have occupied the area, although the surviving evidence does not establish its full form or history.
Later Tradition and Conservation
The seventeenth-century Ottoman traveler and writer Evliya Çelebi recorded that the castle was repaired after Philikos, associated with Alexander the Great, discovered silver mines in the region. He connected the development of mining with the growing importance of Gümüşhane. In modern times, a restoration tender for Canca Castle was issued in 2018.
Remains
Canca Castle stands at an elevation of 1,530 metres on rocky ground. Its plan follows an east-west axis, with the entrance on the western side. The partly circular enclosure is divided into three sections and includes 1.5-metre-thick towers. A door within the castle gives access to the eastern section.
Water and Defensive Structures
A cistern, a reservoir for collecting or storing water, survives within the walls. Measuring 4.1 by 4.1 metres, it remains substantially intact. North of the eastern section stands a watchtower that is referred to as a chapel.
Frescoes and Archaeological Finds
The castle walls contain frescoes thought to depict Christian saints. Excavations produced 500 artifacts, including ceramic fragments, pipes, coins, amphorae, large ancient storage or transport jars, pithoi, large storage vessels, projectile systems unlike modern ones, and projectiles. Four different tandır ovens, traditional sunken or built ovens used for cooking or baking, were also found at the castle.
