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

The book in your hand comprises four chapters. Chapter 1 deals with the importance of the camel and camel dealing in the Turkish culture
and with the origin of camel wrestles. The origination and flourishing of camel wrestles in Anatolia and the distributional characteristics of
wrestling organizations are evaluated and the factors affecting these processes are elucidated in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of the book introduces
various components which make up this cultural heritage and other traditional elements. Again in this chapter, information on the rules
of camel wrestles and wrestling camels is provided; the presence of a cultural zone based on camel dealing is set forth; and drawing its
borders is tried. In Chapter 4 of the book, the importance of camel wrestles as intangible cultural heritage is highlighted and the future of this
colorful heritage is discussed. This last chapter of the book also suggests utilizing the camel dealing culture and camel wrestles as an appeal
in cultural tourism and points to the critical importance of registering this cultural asset as ‘the world cultural heritage’ in terms of its future.

The book entitled “Kültürel Bir Mirasın Coğrafyası: Türkiye’de Deve Güreşleri” (Geography of a Cultural Heritage: Camel Wrestles
in Turkey) and published in 2010 forms the basis for this book. Nevertheless, with the new information and findings accessed in the
research I have carried on since then, it has become inevitable to update and develop the book. Furthermore, the unavailability of
publications dealing with the Anatolian camel dealing culture in foreign languages was a shortcoming which made itself felt. Therefore,
it was decided that the book be prepared in Turkish and English collectively. Especially considering the gradually increasing interest
of foreign visitors in camel wrestles as well, the book has been supplemented with some content to help those visitors who witness this
cultural festivity to get to know this culture more closely.

I had received the close attention and help from a large number of people from ‘the world of the camel dealing culture and wrestles’
in the period until this book came before the readers. Thus, I thank Metin ÇETİN (Aydın), the Chairman of the Federation of Camel
Wrestles; Aytekin KAYA and Cengiz YAVUZ (İncirliova, Aydın), the last remaining camel raisers of Turkey; Metin ÇITAK (Selçuk,
İzmir), who acted as the chairman of Selçuk Tourism Foundation for long years; Yusuf YAVAŞ from the Urban Memory Museum of
Selçuk; Mr. Ali YEŞİLDAĞ, the Mayor of Sarıköy (Gönen); the family of Yusuf LUŞ (Tire, İzmir); Serdar ÇAPAKÇIOĞLU; Vedat
ÖZTÜRK (Kuşadası), a moderator of the website called ‘Deveciler’; Bayram ÇETİN, a muzzle manufacturer; Haşim ERBURHAN
(Tire, İzmir), a halter and zilgor master; and Tuncay ŞENTÜRK (the Kuyulu Village, Aydın), a packsaddle master, for the valuable
information they provided and for their material contributions.

In addition, I also thank my students Günay ÖZDEMİR, Ezgi ÖZEY and Arda BAY very much for their contributions to the organization
of the visual materials used in the book and Mehmet AKKAYA, a staff member of İncirliova Municipality, very much for his interest
and support during the study.

It became possible for this book to meet its readers thanks to İncirliova Municipality. Furthermore, İncirliova Municipality again made
significant contributions during the studies carried on in İncirliova. Therefore, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Mr. Gürşat
KALE, the Mayor of İncirliova, who particularly believed in the importance of the matter and enabled this book to access you.

Assoc. Prof. Vedat ÇALIŞKAN

Çanakkale, 2016