Traditional sheep cheese production. Ocakli village next to Ani. Eastern Turkey.

A local woman living in the Ocakli village next to the ruins of Ani prepares sheep milk to be turned into cheese. Locals living in this region live in many ways their ancestors have for hundreds of years. To make the sheep cheese, women prepare the milk in a large metal basin and then store it in the sheep skin to curdle and form cheese. Locals villagers sustain their families and make a small living from selling this cheese, as well as the other produce they grow. Ocakli village located on the edge of Ani, Eastern Turkey.

Fortification walls of Ani. Eastern Turkey.

Nicknamed the City of 1001 Churches, the main Ani complex is still partly surrounded by its fortification walls. These walls are thick, with towers and battlements. At it's peak of power, Ani had over 100,000 inhabitants. Ani, Eastern, Turkey.

Herding on the high plains around Ani, Eastern Turkey.

A herder grazes his cattle on the plains around the ancient ruins of Ani. Herders live and graze their animals in and around the towering cathedrals and fortifications of Ani. They practice traditional herding techniques that go back hundreds of years - grazing their animals in the lower plains around Ani during the winter and the high plains on the surrounding mountains in the summer months. Many of these families have lived in the same small settlements for generations. These herders will graze their animals in the site of Ani early in the morning before the site officially opens to tourists. The herder's rights to graze their cattle through the site is an unspoken agreement between the local herders and the sites' caretakers. Plains around Ani, Eastern Turkey.

Guard Tower outside of Ani. Eastern Turkey.

An abandoned guard tower outside the main wall of Ani stands as a reminder of the Russian-Armenian-Turkish conflict along these borders in recent years. Until, 2013 travelers could not visit this region. The ruins of Ani are still under contention between the Turkish and Armenian governments.An abandoned guard tower outside the main wall of Ani stands as a reminder of the Russian-Armenian-Turkish conflict along these borders in recent years. Until, 2013 travelers could not visit this region. The ruins of Ani are still under contention between the Turkish and Armenian governments. Off in the distance are the hills of Armenia. Ani, Eastern Turkey.