Istanbul academic project documents Ottoman-era gravestones

An academic team has launched a national project to document historical gravestones in Istanbul to preserve details of Ottoman social and cultural life. The initiative involves recording inscriptions, decorations, and precise GPS coordinates for each headstone to include them in the official heritage registry.

Researchers are analyzing the artistic and symbolic value of the stones. For example, specific headgear and turbans indicate the social status and professions of the deceased, while motifs like cypress trees and fruit plates symbolize eternity. The project also notes a shift in inscriptions from classical religious expressions to more melancholic phrases following the Westernization period in the 19th century.

To ensure long-term preservation, the team is using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create digital maps of the cemeteries. This digital documentation, overseen by various universities and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, aims to prevent the loss of historical data caused by the movement or disappearance of headstones over time.