 Villa rustica from the east | |
  Üçayaklı Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Erdemli,Mersin Province,Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Mediterranean Region |
| Coordinates | 36°39′40″N34°06′34″E / 36.66111°N 34.10944°E /36.66111; 34.10944 |
| Type | Villa rustica |
| History | |
| Periods | earlyByzantine Empire |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Partially demolished |
| Ownership | Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
TheÜçayaklı ruins are a Byzantine-eraarchaeological site inMersin Province,Turkey.
Üçayaklı ruins are on the plateau at the south ofToros Mountains with an altitude of 915 metres (3,002 ft) between twoTurkmen villages namedKüstülü andHüsametli inErdemliilçe (district) of Mersin Province. Although the site is in theMediterranean Region of Turkey, bird's flight distance toMediterranean coast is 20 kilometres (12 mi) and highway distance to the main highwayD.400 at the coast is 25 kilometres (16 mi). The total distance to Erdemli is about 30 kilometres (19 mi) and toMersin is about 65 kilometres (40 mi).
The ruins are composed of two houses and a cistern. The big house is a two or three-storey building with balconies and wide windows on the second floor.[1] The building was avilla rustica during theByzantine Empire period. The stone walls, interior coving and blind vaults as well as corbels to support the balconies survive. But the ceiling and floor structures which were wooden have been demolished. There is a wide downspout which leads the rain water to a cistern at the back of the house. (In the Mediterranean area such cisterns were common during the Roman times). One of the balconies was a toilet room with sewage drain. There is also a smaller house at the back which was probably a service building of the villa.
