A Research on Tahtacı Communities: Case of Antalya
Cultural and religious heritage, which has been important in understanding social relations throughout human history, appears with its differentiating profiiles in today’s modern world. After long years of woodworking, Tahtacıs have settled down and gained a new life look with their cultural characteristics. There are few studies in the literature about the profiles of Tahtacıs, who made a living by woodworking in the past, in direct proportion to processes such as modernization and urbanization. Within the scope of the study, the current lifestyles, traditions, and cultures of Tahtacıs, together with their problems and expectations will be examined through the data obtained from the regions where they live. Based on this, Elmalı Akçaeniş Village and Manavgat Gültepe Neighborhood, both of which have Tahtacı population in Antalya province, have been determined as field of study. The study was designed with a qualitative research design and the data were obtained using interview and participant observation techniques. The data are handled comparatively in terms of identity, religion, social relations, economic characteristics, and spatial contexts. According to the results of the study, it was found that the social ties of Tahtacıs were weakened and their traditions, customs and lifestyles changed along with their socio-economic conditions.
Keywords: Sociology, Tahtacıs, Culture, Social Change, Space