Ani, also known as the City of 1001 Churches, is a vast ancient city located on the Turkish-Armenian border. From 961 AD to 1045 AD, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian empire that stretched across Armenia and eastern Turkey. At its zenith, Ani had a population of over 100,000 people. Today, all that is left of this once great city are the shells of the massive Armenian churches, administrative buildings, fortifications and palaces strew across the high plains around the modern Turkish city of Kars. Local farmers have made the plains around these monolithic structures their homes; living in and around the crumbling churches and fortified walls of Ani. Beekeepers lay out their hives in the thick grass and flowers of the meadows around Ani. Herders lead their cattle through the fields between the ancient churches and fortifications. And small mountain villages have built up around the sprawling site. This ongoing project documents their lives and traditions living in the shadow of Ani. [Ongoing Project June 2015 - Present]