TRACES OF TAHTACI TURKMEN IN KASTAMONU

Mehmet Kıldıroğlu

Article Details

TRACES OF TAHTACI TURKMEN IN KASTAMONU

Authors:

Mehmet Kıldıroğlu

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Alevilik Bektaşilik Araştırmaları | Türk Halkları ve Toplulukları

Journal:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.235-258

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358449

pISSN:

1306-8253

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Tahtacı Turkmens generally live in the Southeastern Anatolia, Mediterranean, Aegean and Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces, some of which are in Marmara and some in Aegean, where forests are located in Anatolia. Tahtacı Turkmens, who were generally engaged in forestry in the past, today earn their living in different branches of work due to the closure of forests to them. Our Kastamonu province is also quite rich in terms of forests compared to other regions. A large part of it is covered with forests. Although communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre are mentioned in Tahrir records, there has been no study conducted so far that mentions the existence of Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu. Sadullah Gülten brought this to the agenda in an article he wrote in 2020. There are also discussions about the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens. Today, Tahtacı Turkmen citizens do not live in Kastamonu. However, some Tahtacı Turkmen traces are found in historical records and place names. Some of the tribe and community names of Tahtacı Turkmens who have Alevi belief and culture and names expressing the basic concepts of Alevism have been preserved as place names in Kastamonu to this day. In addition to communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, the names of people to whom Alevis are attached and respected such as Abdal, Ali, Baba, Çerçi, Dede, Eren, Ese, Haydar, Hasan, Hüseyin, Nalcı, Kalender are also known as place names. Of these, Tahtacı is also used to indicate a professional group and a Turkish tribe whose roots go back to ancient times. Tahtacı has become the name of people belonging to different Turkmen tribes, clans and communities engaged in woodwork. However, this group has its own unique customs and rituals. For this reason, Tahtacı Turkmens have attracted more attention than other Alevi groups. Many local and foreign researchers have conducted research on the origins and beliefs of the Tahtacı Turkmens and put forward different views about them. However, the subject has been rarely addressed in terms of history. Until now, it was known that the Tahtacı Turkmens lived mostly in the provinces of Adana, Mersin, Antalya, Aydın, Muğla, Manisa, İzmir, Balıkesir, Çanakkale. However, in the census records of the last quarter of the 15th century and the 16th century, traces of this group can be found in the Araç and Küre districts of Kastamonu. In the aforementioned censuses, communities such as Tahta Community Araç, Tahtaciyan-ı Küre Community Küre, Tahtaluyı other Yaylağı Tosya, Ağaçeri Sinop, Ağaççıyan Community Daday, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-ı Küre Community Küre were recorded in several villages of Küre and in one village of Araç. In fact, groups close to or thought to be related to this group such as Abdal, Baltacı, Bıçakçılar Bıçkıcılar, Çerçi, Çubukçu, Hızarcı etc. and Tahtacı tribes such as Aydınlı, Alcı, Çaylak, Çerçili, Çoban Çobanlı, Eseli, Evciler, Gökçeli, Kabakçı, Kabaklı, Kâhya, Nalcı, Neccar are also found as place names in the Kastamonu region. In this study, the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens, Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu and its districts and their related tribes, tribes and communities, their connections with Turkestan Turks will be discussed based on place names and beliefs.

 Tahtacı Turkmens generally live in the Southeastern Anatolia, Mediterranean, Aegean and Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces, some of which are in Marmara and some in Aegean, where forests are located in Anatolia. Tahtacı Turkmens, who were generally engaged in forestry in the past, today earn their living in different branches of work due to the closure of forests to them. Our Kastamonu province is also quite rich in terms of forests compared to other regions. A large part of it is covered with forests. Although communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre are mentioned in Tahrir records, there has been no study conducted so far that mentions the existence of Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu. Sadullah Gülten brought this to the agenda in an article he wrote in 2020. There are also discussions about the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens. Today, Tahtacı Turkmen citizens do not live in Kastamonu. However, some Tahtacı Turkmen traces are found in historical records and place names. Some of the tribe and community names of Tahtacı Turkmens who have Alevi belief and culture and names expressing the basic concepts of Alevism have been preserved as place names in Kastamonu to this day. In addition to communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, the names of people to whom Alevis are attached and respected such as Abdal, Ali, Baba, Çerçi, Dede, Eren, Ese, Haydar, Hasan, Hüseyin, Nalcı, Kalender are also known as place names. Of these, Tahtacı is also used to indicate a professional group and a Turkish tribe whose roots go back to ancient times. Tahtacı has become the name of people belonging to different Turkmen tribes, clans and communities engaged in woodwork. However, this group has its own unique customs and rituals. For this reason, Tahtacı Turkmens have attracted more attention than other Alevi groups. Many local and foreign researchers have conducted research on the origins and beliefs of the Tahtacı Turkmens and put forward different views about them. However, the subject has been rarely addressed in terms of history. Until now, it was known that the Tahtacı Turkmens lived mostly in the provinces of Adana, Mersin, Antalya, Aydın, Muğla, Manisa, İzmir, Balıkesir, Çanakkale. However, in the census records of the last quarter of the 15th century and the 16th century, traces of this group can be found in the Araç and Küre districts of Kastamonu. In the aforementioned censuses, communities such as Tahta Community Araç, Tahtaciyan-ı Küre Community Küre, Tahtaluyı other Yaylağı Tosya, Ağaçeri Sinop, Ağaççıyan Community Daday, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-ı Küre Community Küre were recorded in several villages of Küre and in one village of Araç. In fact, groups close to or thought to be related to this group such as Abdal, Baltacı, Bıçakçılar Bıçkıcılar, Çerçi, Çubukçu, Hızarcı etc. and Tahtacı tribes such as Aydınlı, Alcı, Çaylak, Çerçili, Çoban Çobanlı, Eseli, Evciler, Gökçeli, Kabakçı, Kabaklı, Kâhya, Nalcı, Neccar are also found as place names in the Kastamonu region. In this study, the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens, Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu and its districts and their related tribes, tribes and communities, their connections with Turkestan Turks will be discussed based on place names and beliefs.

 Tahtacı Turkmens generally live in the Southeastern Anatolia, Mediterranean, Aegean and Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces, some of which are in Marmara and some in Aegean, where forests are located in Anatolia. Tahtacı Turkmens, who were generally engaged in forestry in the past, today earn their living in different branches of work due to the closure of forests to them. Our Kastamonu province is also quite rich in terms of forests compared to other regions. A large part of it is covered with forests. Although communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre are mentioned in Tahrir records, there has been no study conducted so far that mentions the existence of Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu. Sadullah Gülten brought this to the agenda in an article he wrote in 2020. There are also discussions about the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens. Today, Tahtacı Turkmen citizens do not live in Kastamonu. However, some Tahtacı Turkmen traces are found in historical records and place names. Some of the tribe and community names of Tahtacı Turkmens who have Alevi belief and culture and names expressing the basic concepts of Alevism have been preserved as place names in Kastamonu to this day. In addition to communities such as Ağaççıyan Community, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, the names of people to whom Alevis are attached and respected such as Abdal, Ali, Baba, Çerçi, Dede, Eren, Ese, Haydar, Hasan, Hüseyin, Nalcı, Kalender are also known as place names. Of these, Tahtacı is also used to indicate a professional group and a Turkish tribe whose roots go back to ancient times. Tahtacı has become the name of people belonging to different Turkmen tribes, clans and communities engaged in woodwork. However, this group has its own unique customs and rituals. For this reason, Tahtacı Turkmens have attracted more attention than other Alevi groups. Many local and foreign researchers have conducted research on the origins and beliefs of the Tahtacı Turkmens and put forward different views about them. However, the subject has been rarely addressed in terms of history. Until now, it was known that the Tahtacı Turkmens lived mostly in the provinces of Adana, Mersin, Antalya, Aydın, Muğla, Manisa, İzmir, Balıkesir, Çanakkale. However, in the census records of the last quarter of the 15th century and the 16th century, traces of this group can be found in the Araç and Küre districts of Kastamonu. In the aforementioned censuses, communities such as Tahta Community Araç, Tahtaciyan-ı Küre Community Küre, Tahtaluyı other Yaylağı Tosya, Ağaçeri Sinop, Ağaççıyan Community Daday, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-ı Küre Community Küre were recorded in several villages of Küre and in one village of Araç. In fact, groups close to or thought to be related to this group such as Abdal, Baltacı, Bıçakçılar Bıçkıcılar, Çerçi, Çubukçu, Hızarcı etc. and Tahtacı tribes such as Aydınlı, Alcı, Çaylak, Çerçili, Çoban Çobanlı, Eseli, Evciler, Gökçeli, Kabakçı, Kabaklı, Kâhya, Nalcı, Neccar are also found as place names in the Kastamonu region. In this study, the origin of Tahtacı Turkmens, Tahtacı Turkmens in Kastamonu and its districts and their related tribes, tribes and communities, their connections with Turkestan Turks will be discussed based on place names and beliefs.

 Tahtacı Türkmenler Anadoluda genellikle ormanların bulunduğu Güneydoğu Anadolu, Akdeniz, Ege ile bir kısmı Marmara bir kısmı Egede bulunan Balıkesir ve Çanakkale illerimizde yaşamaktadırlar. Geçmişte genellikle orman işçiliği ile meşgul olan Tahtacı Türkmenler günümüzde ormanların kendilerine kapatılmasından dolayı değişik iş kollarında hayatlarını kazanmaktadırlar. Kastamonu ilimiz de ormanlar bakımından diğer bölgelere göre oldukça zengindir. Büyük bir kısmı ormanlarla kaplıdır. Tahrir kayıtlarında Ağaççıyan Cemaati, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre gibi cemaatlerden söz edilmesine rağmen şimdiye kadar yapılan çalışmalarda Kastamonuda Tahtacı Türkmenlerin yaşadıklarından bahseden bir çalışma olmamıştır. 2020 yılında Sadullah Gülten yazdığı bir makalede bunu gündeme getirmiştir. Tahtacı Türkmenlerin kökeni konusunda da tartışmalar vardır. Günümüzde Kastamonuda Tahtacı Türkmen vatandaşlarımız yaşamamaktadır. Ancak tarihi kayıtlar ve yer adlarında bazı Tahtacı Türkmen izlerine rastlanmaktadır. Alevi inancına ve kültürüne sahip olan Tahtacı Türkmenlerin bazı oymak ve cemaat adları ile Aleviliğin temel kavramlarını ifade eden adlar Kastamonuda günümüze kadar yer adı olarak korunmuştur. Ağaççıyan Cemaati, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre, Tahta, Tahtalu, Tahtacıyan-ı Mağara-i Küre gibi cemaatler yanında Abdal, Ali, Baba, Çerçi, Dede, Eren, Ese, Haydar, Hasan, Hüseyin, Nalcı, Kalender gibi Alevilerin bağlandığı ve saygı duyduğu kişilerin adları da yer adı olarak bilinmektedir. Bunlardan Tahtacı aynı zamanda bir meslek grubunu ve kökü eskilere dayanan bir Türk oymağını bildirmek için kullanılmaktadır. Tahtacı, ağaç işleri ile uğraşan değişik Türkmen boy, oymak ve cemaatlerine mensup kişilerin adı olmuştur. Ancak bu grubun kendi şahsına münhasır uyguladığı adetler ve ritüeller vardır. Bundan dolayı Tahtacı Türkmenler diğer Alevi gruplarına göre daha çok ilgi çekmiştir. Yerli yabancı birçok araştırmacı Tahtacı Türkmenlerin kökeni ve inançları üzerine araştırmalar yapmışlar, onlarla ilgili değişik görüşler ileri sürmüşlerdir. Fakat tarih bakımından konu çok az ele alınmıştır. Tahtacı Türkmenlerin şimdiye kadar daha ziyade Adana, Mersin, Antalya, Aydın, Muğla, Manisa, İzmir, Balıkesir, Çanakkale illerimizde yaşadıkları biliniyordu. Ancak XV. Yüzyılın son çeyreği ve XVI. Yüzyıla ait tahrir kayıtlarında bu grubun izlerine Kastamonuda Araç ve Küre ilçelerinde rastlanmaktadır. Adı geçen tahrirlerde Kürenin birkaç köyünde ve Araçın bir köyünde Tahta Cemaati Araç, Tahtaciyan-ı Küre Cemaati Küre, Tahtaluyı diğer Yaylağı Tosya Ağaçeri Sinop, Ağaççıyan Cemaati Daday, Ağaçcıyan-ı Mağara-ı Küre Cemaati Küre gibi cemaatler kaydedilmiştir. Hatta bu gruba yakın veya bu grupla ilişkisi olduğu düşünülen, Abdal, Baltacı, Bıçakçılar Bıçkıcılar, Çerçi, Çubukçu, Hızarcı vs. gruplar ve Tahtacı oymaklarından Aydınlı, Alcı, Çaylak, Çerçili, Çoban Çobanlı, Eseli, Evciler, Gökçeli, Kabakçı, Kabaklı, Kâhya, Nalcı, Neccar gibi oymak adları da Kastamonu bölgesinde yer adı olarak bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada daha çok Tahtacı Türkmenlerin kökeni, Kastamonu ile ilçelerindeki Tahtacı Türkmenler ile onlarla ilişkili boy, oymak ve cemaatler, Türkistan Türkleri ile bağlantıları yer adları ve inançlarından yola çıkılarak ele alınacaktır.

Article Details

TRACES OF TAHTACI TURKMEN IN KASTAMONU

Authors:

Mehmet Kıldıroğlu

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Alevilik Bektaşilik Araştırmaları | Türk Halkları ve Toplulukları

Journal:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.235-258

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358449

pISSN:

1306-8253

takhta

takhtacı

takhtalı

takhtacılar

ağaçeri

ağaccıyan

ağaçcıyan-ı küre communitytahta

tahtacı

tahtalı

tahtacılar

ağaçeri

ağaçcıyan

ağaccıyan-ı küre cemaati

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mehmet Kıldıroğlu

Publisher: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics: Alevilik Bektaşilik Araştırmaları | Türk Halkları ve Toplulukları

Journal: Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.235-258

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358449

pISSN: 1306-8253

Issues

Authors:

Mehmet Kıldıroğlu

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Alevilik Bektaşilik Araştırmaları | Türk Halkları ve Toplulukları

Journal:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.235-258

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358449

pISSN:

1306-8253