Many centuries ago, people carved houses and churches from them. A few have inhabitants even today. One of the most fascinating places on earth is the area of central Turkey called Cappadocia. Ancient eruptions of Mount Erciyes created a thick layer of lava, which was eroded by wind and rain to create the chimney-type formations seen today. Since Hittite times, hundreds of years before the Christian era, the inhabitants of this area carved houses and subterranean cities from this lava rock.
Colorful images decorate the walls and ceilings of the carved Byzantine Christian chapels .
The town of Avanos, along the banks of the ancient Halys River, is famous for its red pottery . I found an unusual clay chest set, featuring sultans, peasants and elephants. Another ancient art of this area is the tedius process of producing silk. I photographed the process from the cocoons of the silk worms to the finished products.