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VIII A World Cultural Heritage: Anatolian Camel Dealing Culture and Camel Wrestles

cultural functions of camel wrestles are of priceless value. The huge crowd that meets around the field on the day of the wrestles with
the pride in, and happiness about, protecting their past and traditions of thousands of years indeed come to see each other rather than
the wrestles of camels. The day of wrestles waited for with excitement throughout the year virtually turns into a folkloric festivity with
the common entertainment language of the spectators who share a common culture. It is really very impressive to witness the power of
this colorful festivity – with its origin dating back to the depths of history – which joins time, space, and people. Based on a nomadic
life dealing with animal husbandry in the past, this unique event indeed wants to say something to the whole world through its colors,
its rituals, and the ability of the society to succeed in common participation and common entertainment.

As required by a contemporary understanding of municipalism, we also endeavor to protect the cultural heritage of our locality and to
fulfill our responsibilities to maintain it. As İncirliova Municipality, we have intended to contribute to the sharing of our local assets and
to the promotion of this culture through this book prepared. By considering that this heritage asset of ours could be announced to more
extensive sections in the world, we supported the preparation of the book in Turkish and English. As İncirliova Municipality, we go on
supporting all traditions which make up this culture. Our municipality completed its application to ‘the Turkish Patent Institute for the
Geographical Sign Registration of the Camel Sucuk of İncirliova’ in the past few days. So, having been identified and become famous
with the name of our district, this product will turn into a product which will be known by considerably extensive sections. One of the
issues we consider important most is that there is still no museum in Turkey which represents “the Anatolian Camel Dealing Culture”.
I am also happy to announce by availing myself of this opportunity that we have recently launched the studies on “the Museum of
Anatolian Camel Dealing Culture” to be established in İncirliova.

Prepared by Assoc. Prof. Vedat ÇALIŞKAN, a faculty member at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, this comprehensive research will
doubtlessly satisfy an important requirement. As İncirliova Municipality, we are happy about our contribution to making it possible to
get to know this unique cultural heritage of Anatolia closely. However, as also suggested in the book, there is one more important duty
before all of us now. In order for this cultural heritage to reach future generations, it should be proceeded to the stage of application
in order for it to be included in UNESCO’s ‘List of World Cultural Heritage’. I would like to conclude my remarks with an invitation
and with hope for the future. As all relevant institutions in Turkey, we should unite around this goal and present this colorful heritage –
which has overcome times and extended from Central Asia to the European coasts – to the whole world. A good comprehension of the
challenging conditions of the past and the role of camel dealing in this process in the journey of civilization by our children and future
generations will inspire and guide them for the future.

Gürşat KALE

Mayor of İncirliova

İncirliova, 2016