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Folklore and Religion in Republican Turkey: Thoughts from Çatalhöyük and the Konya Plain

  • 8th October 2015
  • 18:00—19:00
  • The Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AB

Folklore and Religion in Republican Turkey: Thoughts from Çatalhöyük and the Konya Plain.

A Folklore Society lecture by David Shankland (Director, The Royal Anthropological Institute)

The aim of this lecture is to outline the relationship between religion, folklore and archaeology in the Turkish Republic, with particular reference to the beliefs of the villages nearby the Çatalhöyük excavations, in the province of Konya. It will argue that the balanced relationship between state, archaeology and local understanding of religion resulted in an environment within which the extensive and rich heritage of the region could be adequately – if not perfectly – protected. One important implication of this is that the Republican understanding of Islam was not purely imposed from above, but did have resonance within the local traditions. Disagreements and incongruences did exist, but the situation was manageable, resulting in a subtle interaction between folklore, villagers, the state, archaeologists, and religious beliefs. In times of heightened conflict, this balance can become affected, with tragic consequences.

All Welcome! Just let us know you’re coming: call 0207 862 8564 or email [email protected]

Thurs 8 October 2015, 6—7 p.m. at The Warburg Institute

To book, contact [email protected]