The Çukur Medrese (= Hole Madrasa), also called ‘Yağıbasan Medresesi’ (= named after Nizameddin Yağıbasan, a Danişmend ruler of Sivas) is one of Tokat’s oldest buildings, thought to date back to the mid 12th century (Danişmend period). It even counts amongst the first islamic schools established in Anatolia. It must be one of the first to have been restored too, as it is recorded that it was repaired in 1247, under the Seljuk sultan İzzeddin Keykavus II (1246-1260).
It has a large central room, under a dome having 14 m diameter and being open in its center. The same type of ‘open dome madrasa’ exist in the nearby city of Niksar. Severely damaged by the 1939 earthquake, it has been restored recently. The hole in its dome is now covered by a metal ‘calotte’.

Danişmend = Türkmen dynasty that ruled in north-central and eastern Anatolia from 1080 to 1178. The dynasty centered originally around Sivas, Tokat, and Niksar; they extended as far west as Ankara and Kastamonu for a time, and as far south as Malatya, which they captured in 1103. In early 12th century, Danişmend were rivals of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, which controlled much of the territory surrounding the Danişmend lands, and they fought extensively with the Crusaders.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Tokat’ (Ersal Yavi) – Tokat Otelcilik ve Turizm A.Ş. (1986).
& Website of ‘hsnymn.blogcu.com/tokat-medreseleri’