Osmanlı’dan Cumhuriyet’e Mezar Taşlarında Geleneğin Devamlılığı Üzerine Bir Alan Araştırması: Ünye Menteşe Mezarlığı
A Field Study on the Continuity of Funerary Tradition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic: The Ünye Menteşe Cemetery

Summary/Abstract: The tradition of funerary practices, which has continued uninterrupted from the beginning of Turkish history to the present day, developed richly in Anatolia, especially during the Ottoman period, and persisted into the early years of the Republic. Social memory appears to have played a significant role in maintaining this continuity. One of the places where traces of the Ottoman funerary tradition can be observed is the district of Ünye, located in the Central Black Sea Region. The Menteşe Cemetery, situated in Saraçlı, one of the central neighborhoods of the district, stands as an important example reflecting this tradition. The cemetery is believed to have derived its name from Menteşe Bey, said to be one of the Danişmendli beys who was martyred in a battle with the Greeks near Ünye. Although the baldachin-type tomb within the cemetery is thought to belong to Menteşe Bey, there is no inscription or document confirming this. The tomb has lost much of its original authenticity due to several restorations. Over time, burials around the tomb have formed a cemetery containing tombstones from both the Ottoman and Republican periods that continue the Ottoman funerary tradition. However, no academic study has been conducted on these tombstones to date. This study examines and introduces in detail the tombstones from the Ottoman and Republican periods in the Menteşe Cemetery and aims to determine their place within the Turkish-Islamic funerary tradition. The findings indicate that the typologies of tombstone heads, decorative motifs, and inscription characteristics reflect the continuation of Ottoman funerary traditions into the Republican period. This continuity demonstrates how social memory and cultural identity have been preserved through these monuments. The preservation and transmission of these stones to future generations are of great importance for sustaining cultural heritage.

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