Inscriptions and Textual Culture in the Traditional Houses of Botsa

Murat Karademir

Makale detayları

Inscriptions and Textual Culture in the Traditional Houses of Botsa

Yazarlar:

Murat Karademir

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sanat Tarihi

Dergi:

Palmet Dergisi Issue 8, pp.35-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359473

pISSN:

2822-3551

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study focuses on the inscriptions carved on the façades of traditional houses in Botsa village formerly known as Güzelyurt, located in the Meram district of Konya. In rural Anatolian architecture, such inscriptions are often overlooked; however, they are not merely elements documenting the construction dates of buildings, but also multi-layered records that reflect the spiritual life of the period, the craftsmanship tradition, social values, and the local aesthetic culture. By addressing the issue on the scale of a single village, this research highlights the significance of epigraphic material in rural settlements and reveals the reflections of written culture within the architectural memory of the countryside. Within the scope of the study, a total of 14 inscriptions were documented in situ and analyzed with regard to script characteristics, application techniques, formal structures, material properties, and textual content. During the cataloging process, the inscriptions were arranged chronologically from the oldest to the most recent, thereby providing insights into the development of architectural production in the village over time. An examination of the texts shows that most of the inscriptions include the phrase MāshāAllāh along with the construction date. This expression functions as a symbolic protective element for the building, while also offering meaningful information about its identity and the socio-cultural perspectives of its users. The inscriptions are generally located on the front façades of the houses, in highly visible positions, and present limited ornamental features. Nevertheless, in some examples, symbolic objects such as ceramic plates were incorporated, directly reflecting local folk beliefs on the façades. These findings demonstrate that the house inscriptions of Botsa hold a distinctive position as carriers of textual culture and symbolic expression in rural Anatolian architecture. Thus, the inscriptions should be regarded not only as architectural elements but also as written documents transmitting the cultural memory of their time. The study reveals that architectural records in rural settlements must be approached not only from an aesthetic perspective but also within their socio-cultural contexts, thereby making significant contributions to the fields of architectural history and cultural heritage studies.

 This study focuses on the inscriptions carved on the façades of traditional houses in Botsa village formerly known as Güzelyurt, located in the Meram district of Konya. In rural Anatolian architecture, such inscriptions are often overlooked; however, they are not merely elements documenting the construction dates of buildings, but also multi-layered records that reflect the spiritual life of the period, the craftsmanship tradition, social values, and the local aesthetic culture. By addressing the issue on the scale of a single village, this research highlights the significance of epigraphic material in rural settlements and reveals the reflections of written culture within the architectural memory of the countryside. Within the scope of the study, a total of 14 inscriptions were documented in situ and analyzed with regard to script characteristics, application techniques, formal structures, material properties, and textual content. During the cataloging process, the inscriptions were arranged chronologically from the oldest to the most recent, thereby providing insights into the development of architectural production in the village over time. An examination of the texts shows that most of the inscriptions include the phrase MāshāAllāh along with the construction date. This expression functions as a symbolic protective element for the building, while also offering meaningful information about its identity and the socio-cultural perspectives of its users. The inscriptions are generally located on the front façades of the houses, in highly visible positions, and present limited ornamental features. Nevertheless, in some examples, symbolic objects such as ceramic plates were incorporated, directly reflecting local folk beliefs on the façades. These findings demonstrate that the house inscriptions of Botsa hold a distinctive position as carriers of textual culture and symbolic expression in rural Anatolian architecture. Thus, the inscriptions should be regarded not only as architectural elements but also as written documents transmitting the cultural memory of their time. The study reveals that architectural records in rural settlements must be approached not only from an aesthetic perspective but also within their socio-cultural contexts, thereby making significant contributions to the fields of architectural history and cultural heritage studies.

 This study focuses on the inscriptions carved on the façades of traditional houses in Botsa village formerly known as Güzelyurt, located in the Meram district of Konya. In rural Anatolian architecture, such inscriptions are often overlooked; however, they are not merely elements documenting the construction dates of buildings, but also multi-layered records that reflect the spiritual life of the period, the craftsmanship tradition, social values, and the local aesthetic culture. By addressing the issue on the scale of a single village, this research highlights the significance of epigraphic material in rural settlements and reveals the reflections of written culture within the architectural memory of the countryside. Within the scope of the study, a total of 14 inscriptions were documented in situ and analyzed with regard to script characteristics, application techniques, formal structures, material properties, and textual content. During the cataloging process, the inscriptions were arranged chronologically from the oldest to the most recent, thereby providing insights into the development of architectural production in the village over time. An examination of the texts shows that most of the inscriptions include the phrase MāshāAllāh along with the construction date. This expression functions as a symbolic protective element for the building, while also offering meaningful information about its identity and the socio-cultural perspectives of its users. The inscriptions are generally located on the front façades of the houses, in highly visible positions, and present limited ornamental features. Nevertheless, in some examples, symbolic objects such as ceramic plates were incorporated, directly reflecting local folk beliefs on the façades. These findings demonstrate that the house inscriptions of Botsa hold a distinctive position as carriers of textual culture and symbolic expression in rural Anatolian architecture. Thus, the inscriptions should be regarded not only as architectural elements but also as written documents transmitting the cultural memory of their time. The study reveals that architectural records in rural settlements must be approached not only from an aesthetic perspective but also within their socio-cultural contexts, thereby making significant contributions to the fields of architectural history and cultural heritage studies.

 Bu çalışma, Konya ili Meram ilçesine bağlı Botsa eski adıyla Güzelyurt köyünde yer alan geleneksel konutların cephelerine işlenmiş kitabeleri konu edinmektedir. Anadolu kırsal mimarisinde çoğu zaman göz ardı edilen bu yazıtlar, yalnızca yapıların inşa tarihlerini belgeleyen unsurlar değil; aynı zamanda dönemin inanç dünyasını, zanaatkârlık anlayışını, toplumsal değerlerini ve yerel estetik kültürünü yansıtan çok katmanlı belgelerdir. Köy ölçeğinde ele alınan bu çalışma, kırsal yerleşimlerde epigrafik malzemenin önemine dikkat çekmekte ve yazılı kültürün taşradaki mimari hafızadaki yansımalarını ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında toplam 14 kitabe yerinde belgelenmiş; yazı karakterleri, uygulama teknikleri, biçimsel formları, malzeme özellikleri ve içerik yapıları üzerinden kapsamlı bir değerlendirme yapılmıştır. Kataloglama sürecinde kitabeler, tarihlendirmeleri esas alınarak en eskiden en yeniye doğru sıralanmış ve bu sayede köydeki mimari üretimin zaman içerisindeki gelişimi hakkında ipuçları elde edilmiştir. Kitabelerin metin içerikleri incelendiğinde, çoğunlukla Mâşallah ifadesi ile birlikte inşa tarihinin yer aldığı görülmektedir. Bu ifade, yapıya yönelik sembolik bir koruma işlevi üstlenirken, aynı zamanda yapının kimliği ve kullanıcıların toplumsal-kültürel perspektifleri hakkında anlamlı bilgiler vermektedir. Kitabeler çoğunlukla yapıların ön cephelerinde, görünürlüğü yüksek konumlarda yer almakta olup süsleme açısından oldukça sınırlı örnekler sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte bazı kitabelerde seramik tabak gibi sembolik objelerin kullanıldığı ve böylece halk inanışlarının doğrudan cepheye yansıtıldığı da tespit edilmiştir. Bu bulgular, Botsadaki konut kitabelerinin Anadolu kırsal mimarisinde yazı kültürü ve sembolik anlatımın taşıyıcıları olarak özgün bir yere sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla kitabeler, yalnızca bir mimari unsur değil, aynı zamanda dönemin kültürel belleğini aktaran yazılı belgeler niteliği taşımaktadır. Çalışma, kırsal yerleşimlerdeki mimari belgelerin yalnızca estetik açıdan değil, sosyo-kültürel bağlamlarıyla birlikte ele alınması gerektiğini ortaya koymakta ve bu yönüyle mimarlık tarihi ile kültürel miras araştırmalarına önemli katkılar sunmaktadır.

Makale detayları

Inscriptions and Textual Culture in the Traditional Houses of Botsa

Yazarlar:

Murat Karademir

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sanat Tarihi

Dergi:

Palmet Dergisi Issue 8, pp.35-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359473

pISSN:

2822-3551

Botsa

Traditional Domestic Architecture

Inscription

EpigraphyBotsa

Geleneksel Konut Mimarisi

Kitabe

Yazı Sanatı

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Murat Karademir

Yayıncı: Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar: Sanat Tarihi

Dergi: Palmet Dergisi Issue 8, pp.35-42

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001359473

pISSN: 2822-3551

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Murat Karademir

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sanat Tarihi

Dergi:

Palmet Dergisi Issue 8, pp.35-42

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359473

pISSN:

2822-3551