Turkish-Islamic historical gravestone inventory project

Turkey has initiated the ‘National Inventory Project for Turkish-Islamic Era Gravestones and Inscriptions’ to digitally document and preserve historical artifacts. Supported by the Presidency and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the project aims to record inscriptions, shapes, and decorations that provide insight into past social and cultural life.

In Tekirdağ, a 17-person expert team led by Associate Professor Dr. Ökkeş Narinç and the Tekirdağ Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism is conducting field studies. Following a two-year preparation period, this six-year study involves examining and photographing Ottoman and Islamic era gravestones for integration into the National Museum Inventory System. The team is also identifying deteriorating stones to facilitate restoration efforts in collaboration with local governments. Officials noted that while the project is currently focused on Turkey, its scope may eventually expand to document Turkish-Islamic heritage across the Balkans and Central Asia.

Simultaneously, academic teams in Istanbul are utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create digital maps of cemeteries. This process includes recording precise GPS coordinates, inscriptions, and decorations to prevent data loss from the movement or disappearance of headstones. Researchers are analyzing the symbolic value of the artifacts, noting how specific motifs like cypress trees symbolize eternity and how headgear indicates the social status of the deceased. The study also observes a linguistic shift in inscriptions from classical religious expressions to more melancholic phrases following the 19th-century Westernization period.