Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Heritages 2025 Critical Questions – Contemporary Practice , London, İngiltere, 25 - 27 Haziran 2025, ss.371-383, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
The Kabaoğuz Villages comprise ten mountain villages founded by Oghuz whose tribes of nomadic origin, migrated from Central Asia and settled in the Anatolian region. In the historical memory of the Oghuz tribes, led a nomadic life, livestock breeding constituted their primary means of subsistence.1 The villages were established with the settlement of the Kızık clans of the Oghuz Turks in this region and were named Kabaoğuz. The inhabitants migrated to the highland pastures in summer and spent the winter in the villages, as their livelihood depended on livestock breeding. Strongly influenced by the heritage of their nomadic ancestors, the Kabaoğuz people continued livestock breeding and transhumance activities in seasonal cycles until recent years, in the same way as their ancestors had done. Located in the Central Black Sea Region in the north of Türkiye, they lie within the boundaries of the Gümüşhacıköy district of Amasya Province (Figure 1). The villages of Bademli, Çal, Dumanlı, Kağnıcı, Kızık, Kızılca, Kutluca, Derbentobruğu, Pusacık, and Saraycık are all referred to as the Kabaoğuz Villages. The villages are situated at altitudes ranging between 950 and 1100 meters, while their highland pastures (Apaz and Dumanlı Yayla) are located at approximately 1600 meters. In the 1990 census, it was recorded that 6,062 people resided in the Kabaoğuz Villages.2 In 2000, the census identified a population of 4,424 in these villages.3 According to the address-based population registration system, the population decreased from 2,137 in 2021 to 1,989 in 2024.4 The data indicates that the total population of the villages declines by approximately 50 percent every decade. Due to the significant decline in population, livestock breeding is no longer carried out with large herds as in the past; however, the tradition of migrating to the highlands in May continues today. In these mountain villages, people earned their living by raising sheep and goats, while agriculture was practiced on a scale sufficient to meet the needs of the animals.5 In the past, tobacco cultivation was widespread, involving people of all ages. However, in the Kabaoğuz Villages, tobacco production has ceased due to the outmigration of young people and its reduced profitability compared to earlier times. In recent years, the production of rosehip and walnut, and the supply of milk and dairy products to local cooperatives have come to the forefront.6 Today, livestock breeding continues but not widespread as before; however, migration to the highlands is undertaken not for livestock production, but as a cultural ritual. People who have left the villages for various reasons continue to carry their culture into the future through the traditional Kabaoğuz Highland Festivals. This tradition, maintained for the past 29 years, brings villagers together through a festival held in the highlands.
Among the Kabaoğuz Villages, Derbentobruğu stands out for maintaining its rural identity while preserving both its tangible and intangible heritage. According to 2024 data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, the village has a population of 200 people and consists of 100 households.7 Declining agricultural activities and income levels have led to significant outmigration. Today, most houses are used only during the summer months for holidays or family visits, and the permanent population of the village is largely over the age of 50.8 The village’s sources of livelihood are agriculture and livestock breeding, and it has a highland pasture known as Yakın Yayla.9
This article presents research on how to ensure the preservation of the rural architectural fabric of Derbentobruğu Village, one of the Kabaoğuz Villages that largely retains its originality but is under threat, with traditional and cultural roots dating back to ancient times. It addresses issues of cultural continuity and architectural conservation, discussing the measures that should be taken and offering recommendations. For this purpose, (i) the tangible and intangible cultural heritage has been documented, (ii) proposals for preserving cultural heritage have been formulated, and (iii) evaluations have been conducted regarding the continuity of rural architecture.