Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Milli Folklor, cilt.18, sa.141, ss.179-195, 2024 (AHCI)
Insufficient and incomplete documentation of cultural heritage causes problems in their preservation and transmission to future generations. This problem is more prevalent in the conservation and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage in rural settlements. Factors such as a lower population in rural areas, a higher rate of migration, an aging population, difficulty in transportation, and lack of technology make the identification and documentation of ICH in rural areas even more crucial. Additionally, since rural areas are generally overlooked, the cultural heritage in these areas are not universally recognized enough, leading to deficiencies, delays, and errors in documentation and registration processes. New methods are needed to document rural cultural heritage in all their aspects and promote their recognition universally. Digital Cultural Maps are very useful in terms of disseminating information universally and facilitating access to it quickly. They are also used in documenting and promoting cultural heritage values. The Cultural Maps of United Nations Education-al, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Council of Europe (COE) are excellent examples of this. Since the cultural heritage composed of monuments and sites are spatial elements, the maps provided by UNESCO and COE are sufficient. However, UNESCO’s digital diagram of ICH is primarily planned based on cultural values and the countries to which they belong. Therefore, cultural spaces are not addressed exactly. ICH have their own unique spaces. They emerge and take shape through tradition, lifestyle, and geography in these spaces, gaining meaning and identity. Therefore, it is not possible to document and pre-serve ICH without establishing its relationship with its own space. The aim of the study is to develop a sample methodology by documenting the spaces of ICH elements using digital cultural mapping. The village of Güzelsu, Anatolia, Türkiye was chosen as the study area. Rural settlements in Anatolia can offer rich cultural elements and cultural spaces in terms of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. ICH and cultural space in the sample area are being documented by identifying and analyzing them through digital cultural mapping methodology. The proposed cultural mapping method is based on digital methods and has been transferred to the map with its coordinates through the Global Positioning System (GPS). Obtaining documentary information, visuals, and coordinates in a single map with minor touches will allow researchers and enthusiasts from distant geographies to access ICH and cultural space in rural areas without the need for any other source. It is believed that the data obtained with the proposed mapping method in this study will contribute to the accurate and permanent documentation and preservation of cultural heritage, as well as its transmission to future generations.