Tekirdağ launches digital inventory project for historical gravestones

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has launched a comprehensive field study in Tekirdağ as part of the ‘National Inventory Project for Turkish-Islamic Era Gravestones and Inscriptions’. A 17-person expert team, led by Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University faculty member Associate Professor Dr. Ökkeş Narinç and the Tekirdağ Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, is conducting the research.

The project involves examining, photographing, and digitally documenting Ottoman and Islamic era gravestones and inscriptions found in cemeteries throughout the city. This data will be integrated into the National Museum Inventory System to create a detailed cultural archive. The study, which follows a two-year preparation period, is expected to last six years.

In addition to documentation, the team is identifying damaged or deteriorating stones. The project aims to collaborate with local governments to restore and protect these historical artifacts. While currently focused on Turkey, officials stated that the project's scope may eventually expand to document Turkish-Islamic heritage across the Balkans and Central Asia.