From Multi-Ethnic Origin to Nation-State: Oblivion Heritage and Its Tangible and Intangible Remains in the Black Sea Region (Pontos Euxeinos), Turkey

The Black Sea Region in Turkey has always been an attraction point due to its geographical characteristics and geopolitical location. Being the place of trade, hidey-hole place of immigration, place of attraction for western travellers, The Black Sea Region has embraced multi-ethnic existence with multi-layered socio-cultural and economic relations during its history. However, this multi-ethnic origin, which has left various tangible and intangible traces in its landscape, is in state of oblivion in today’s nation-state. Even though fewer traces of multi-ethnic presence in the physical environment have remained, its continuity can still be seen in daily life and traditional acts and activities, languages and dialects, songs and festivals, dress and finery, place and human names. Likewise, this has always shaped the physical environment; its architecture and space organisation. In this regard, the paper focuses on multiple heritage derived from its multi-ethnic origin. It investigates the tangible and intangible remains of this multiplicity in the region to reclaim its history and heritage. In the end, the paper discusses this controversial albeit oblivion heritage in the case of the Black Sea Region in Turkey.