Title:
Spiritual and Cultural Sustainability: Documenting Heritage in Antakya, Turkey, after the 2023 Earthquake
Spiritual and Cultural Sustainability: Documenting Heritage in Antakya, Turkey, after the 2023 Earthquake
Author(s)
Yildirim, Cicek Karatas
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Abstract
In the wake of the devastating February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, this study documents and analyzes the impact on Antakya’s cultural heritage, focusing on the Habibi Neccar Mosque and the St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. Employing a critical heritage studies approach, we explore both tangible and intangible heritage, as well as the relationship between the two, in a post-disaster context. Our mixed-methods approach includes 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and one-on-one interviews, capturing both physical damage and socio-cultural impact. This methodology reveals the profound interconnectedness of physical structures and cultural memory—at first individual and eventually generational. Despite physical destruction, this research underscores the remarkable resilience of the community’s intangible heritage, manifest in the determination to maintain cultural practices and rebuild. This resilience could be bolstered by preservation efforts targeted at intangible heritage post-disaster, and could also be leveraged to help document, preserve, and rebuild tangible heritage damaged in times of disaster. This study contributes to cultural heritage preservation discourse by advocating for an integrated approach that considers both tangible and intangible elements, emphasizing community involvement in preservation efforts. It provides a framework for understanding and preserving cultural heritage that extends beyond physical reconstruction, highlighting the role of collective memory and community resilience in sustaining cultural identity post-disaster. These findings have significant implications for heritage preservation strategies in disaster-prone regions worldwide.
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Date Issued
2025-03
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings
Rights Statement
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