Dung Use in Rural Southeastern Türkiye (Anatolia)

Abstract

The people of southeastern Turkiye (Anatolia) have relied on animal husbandry since the Neolithic period, leading to the extensive use of animal dung in their daily lives for heating, baking, and building houses. However, despite the significance of this practice, no scientific studies have been conducted on the use of animal dung in traditional societies within the region. This article presents the findings of a 15-monthlong ethnographic study conducted in 11 villages of southeastern Turkiye, focusing on the utilization of animal dung by traditional pastoral and agropastoral communities. The primary objective of this study was to highlight the importance and diverse applications of different types of animal dung in traditional societies. Animal dung serves as a vital secondary resource for both domestic needs and ecological balance in these communities. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive documentation of dung usage techniques, including collection and storage methods for various types of animal dung. In addition, it explores the preferences and specific uses of certain types of dung within these traditional societies. Furthermore, the obtained data was analyzed and compared with different dung use practices in traditional societies across the globe. By doing so, this study contributes to bridging the gap in scientific knowledge regarding the use of animal dung in the traditional societies of southeastern Turkiye.

Keywords

• Animal dung
• Dung cake
• Pastoralism
• Ethnography
• Southeastern Anatolia

Güneydoğu Anadolu Kırsalında Hayvan Gübresi Kullanımı

Abstract

Dünyadaki kırsal topluluklar sosyal ve ekonomik ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için farklı türlerden hayvan beslemektedirler. Hayvan besleyen toplumlar bu tür ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için yetiştirdikleri hayvanın gübresinden de faydalanmaktadır. Türkiye’nin Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Neolitik Dönemden itibaren insanlar tarım ve hayvancılığa dayalı bir yaşam sürdürmüştür. Dolayısıyla hayvan gübresi bölge insanlarının geçmişten günümüze çeşitli ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak açısından hayati bir rol oynamaktadır. Oynadığı önemli role rağmen bölgedeki yerel toplulukların hayvan gübresi kullanımı hakkında kapsamlı etnografik bir çalışma yapılmamıştır. Bu makale, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde yer alan 11 köyde yaşayan yerel toplulukların hayvan gübresi kullanımı üzerine 15 ay süren etnografik bir çalışmanın sonuçlarını sunmaktadır. Gözlemler, ısıtma, pişirme gibi hane içi ihtiyaçlarının yansıra, gübrenin ev yapımı, tarımda kullanımı gibi ekonomik ihtiyaçlar için de yoğun olarak tercih edildiğini göstermektedir. Bu çalışma ilk olarak, yerel toplulukların sosyo-ekonomik çerçevesine göre farklı hayvan türlerinden elde edilen gübre üretimi, depolama ve kullanım tekniklerini belgelemeye çalışmıştır. Elde edilen veriler ışığında daha sonra dünyanın farklı bölgelerinde yaşayan geleneksel topluluklardaki hayvan gübresi kullanımı ele alınmış ve incelenen köylerle karşılaştırılmıştır. Böylelikle bu araştırma, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesindeki geleneksel topluluklarda hayvan gübresi kullanımı hakkındaki etnografik bilgi boşluğunu doldurmaya katkı sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Hayvan gübresi
• Tezek
• Hayvancılık
• Etnografya
• Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi

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