Motif Repertoire on Tahtacı Gravestones of Yaka Village (İzmir - Güzelbahçe)
Project no. 30763 · Status: Kapanmış · 2023
Summary
<p>“<strong>Motif Repertoire on Tahtacı Gravestones of Yaka Village (İzmir - Güzelbahçe)</strong>”</p><p>This study, within the framework of the Ottoman period tombstones, deals with the tombstones of Tahtacı - Alevis in İzmir - Güzelbahçe and the motif repertoire of these stones. The Yaka settlement, located in the middle part of the section between Sancak Cape and the Urla Peninsula, on the north-facing slopes of the Kızıldağ range surrounding the southern coast of the Gulf of Izmir, has been the living space of a smaller Tahtacı group, separated from the group belonging to the Narlıdere - Yanyatır Hearth, since the early 19th century. It is understood that it was chosen as . The burial area associated with the settlement began to form in the first quarter of the 19th century. The earliest dated stone in the cemetery dates back to 1814.</p><p>In our study, 466 stones, including 248 head stones, 215 foot stones, 2 side stones and 1 cap stone, were identified, examined and catalogued. In the motif repertoire of the stones, apart from various floral and symbolic motifs that can be encountered regardless of faith, sect, region and period, more special, uncommon motifs have been identified. These are mainly clothing items, jewelry and various items, and braided hair motifs called belik. It has been understood that some of the depictions of clothing, jewelry and goods found on both men's and women's stones have symbolic meanings that are closely linked to Tahtacı beliefs and moral teachings, beyond Turkmen clothing traditions. These are mainly elements such as the belt wrapped around the waist (identification with the Mother Belt of Fatima), Kemerbest (the analogy of Hazrat Ali's warriors and the Mother Belt of Fatima), and tomaka (a symbol of both marriage and discreetness in women). Apart from this, amulets (or hamayıl) and necklaces in the forms of kosh, dulukçalık, perperi, triangular, quadrangular and cylindrical, the names of which we determined through our research in the Tahtacı traditional clothing repertoire; In men's stones, items such as pocket watches, daggers, guns, etc., and clothing such as vests; women's stones have belts and linen ears (head cover) embroidered on the back; moon/crescent on many stones (Hz. Ali symbolism); It is worth emphasizing the vegetal element, which can be called "pipe flower" or "laughter flower", with flowers in a bell-like form. Another noteworthy issue is that many stones are processed front and back, creating an anthropomorphic connotation. In the comparison and analysis, it is understood that similar tombstones processed in this way and with a similar repertoire are the tombstones seen in settlements known as Tahtacı in Western Anatolia, as reflected in the literature.</p><p>From here, it is understood that this motif repertoire and the understanding of tombstone engraving are specific to the Tahtacı culture, that they are the products of a system of thought-belief-customs that dates back to the shamanic belief period and undoubtedly blended with the Islamic belief to create its own unique interpretation over the centuries, and that they continue to change by being influenced by modernism.</p><p><strong><em>Keywords:</em></strong><em> woodcutter, Tahtacı, tombstone, anthropomorphy, clothing tradition, Alevi, motif.</em></p>