Managing intangible cultural heritage in Turkey: four cases originating in antiquity

Abstract

This thesis concerns the intangible cultural heritage of Turkey. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has taken various steps to safeguard and promote intangible cultural heritage over time. Recently, owing to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, effective strategies have started to occur. The Convention includes two lists, Representative and Urgent Safeguarding Lists, for elements to be nominated and then adopted. Four elements from Turkey have been chosen as case studies because they are originating in antiquity. Three of them are registered in the Representative List: Flatbread making and sharing culture, Dede Korkut epics, and the Mangala game. The fourth one, the Kılıç Kalkan dance, is presented as a suggestion to be also registered in that list. Their roots in the past are examined by using ancient texts and sometimes artifacts. Because nowadays safeguarding intangible cultural heritage is a growing international concern, this thesis also proposes new safeguarding activities. It is hoped that this research will offer various insights into the concept of intangible cultural heritage and that the results will contribute not only to the understanding of intangible cultural heritage from a different perspective but also to help further studies on this topic.