UNDERSTANDING INTANGIBLE ASPECTS OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE; LIVING CULTURES OF NORTHEAST KAYSERI VALLEYS

Öz

Sustaining cultural landscape areas needs to consider the socio-cultural characteristics as well as their physical and visible manifestations. It is important to document and conserve the values of both tangible and intangible heritage together in an integrated manner. The living heritage is to be understood as “both tangible and intangible works through which the creativity of that people finds expressions”. These include but may not be limited to social practices, daily lives, rituals, historic places, traditional craftsmanship, know-how, techniques and skills, etc. Finding the means of safeguarding intangible heritage and their transmission to the following generations is vital for the preservation of the tangible remains and characteristics. This paper reviews the cultural landscape features of Kayseri’s Northeast Valleys, Koramaz, Gesi and Derevenk, in terms of their tangible and intangible values. The methodology, therefore, proposes the integrated documentation of these tangible and intangible characteristics. The research is based on in-depth interviews with local people, analysis of archival sources and documentation in the field. The results highlight the traditional crafts and production techniques of daily life; some of these are continued at the present while others are not practised anymore. However, they were practised in the recent past by the elderly and their remembrances and accounts bring these to our day. Demographic changes within the last century appear to be the main reason behind the changes in daily practices. Their documentation forms the first step for their revival and continuity for the future. Their promotion and the inclusion of local stakeholders in the conservation process is the only solution for the integrated conservation of these cultural landscapes. To understand Kayseri's past and to understand its reflections on the present day, it is important to look at the hike and geography where the non-Muslim -Muslim population that lived and/or lived in a certain period of time. To preserve the uniqueness and integrity of these settlements, which continued their culture of living together until the beginning of the 20th century, and to carry them to the present day with their habitat and to pass them on to future generations, it is necessary to develop principles and strategies to ensure the continuity of nature and the human factor that constitutes the cultural landscape chain of these valleys. To bring the tangible and intangible values of the settlements to the present day, it is important to examine the physical, natural and socio+ layers and to ensure that they are carried to the present day. The preservation of the heritage value of rural landscapes will surely be sustainable with the protection of three parameters - built environment-natural environment -socio+ environment.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Cultural Landscapes
• Traditional Craftsmanship
• Production Landscape
• Northeast Kayseri Valleys
• Koramaz, Gesi and Derevenk Valleys

UNDERSTANDING INTANGIBLE ASPECTS OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE; LIVING CULTURES OF NORTHEAST KAYSERI VALLEYS

Öz

Sustaining cultural landscapes requires the conservation of socio-cultural characteristics as well as their physical manifestations. It is essential to document and conserve tangible and intangible elements of heritage in an integrated manner as cultural heritage consists of “both tangible and intangible works through which the creativity of a people finds expressions”. These include but may not be limited to social practices, daily lives, rituals, traditional craftsmanship, know-how, techniques and skills, historic places, buildings, public spaces and objects. Finding the means of understanding and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and its transmission to next generations is vital for the preservation of tangible heritage and its characteris-tics. This paper reviews the development of the concepts of intangible cultural heritage and cultural land-scapes, and the interrelationship between tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Their interaction opens up new approaches to cultural heritage and its conservation. The case study focuses on the cultural land-scape features of Kayseri’s Northeast Valleys, Koramaz, Gesi and Derevenk, in terms of their tangible and intangible heritage elements and values. The methodology, therefore, proposes the integrated documenta-tion and analysis of these tangible and intangible cultural heritage characteristics. The area had a multi-cultural, ethnic and religious social structure, which shaped its elements through human-nature interaction. However, demographic changes within the last century transformed daily-life practices. The research is based on in-depth interviews with local residents, analysis of archival sources and documentation of the physical remains in the field. The results highlight the traditional crafts and production techniques as daily-life practices; some of these are still continued at the present while others are not practiced anymore. Those practiced in the recent past are carried to our day through the remembrances and accounts of the elders. The documentation of these practices forms the first step for their revival and sustainability for the future and provide valuable tools for the development of principles and strategies with this purpose. Understanding the physical, natural and socio+ layers of tangible and intangible cultural heritage is essential in this context. Their promotion and the inclusion of local stakeholders in the conservation process is the only solution for the integrated conservation of these cultural landscapes in terms of a living heritage approach.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Intangible cultural heritage
• traditional craftsmanship
• production landscapes
• Northeast Kayseri Valleys
• Koramaz
• Gesi and Derevenk Valleys

Kaynakça

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