ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE BLACK SEA REGIONS

Cultural Observations from Northern Türkiye

Abstract

This study aims to present anthropological insights into selected cultural and social phenomena in the Black Sea region of northern Türkiye. It is based on brief field observations collected during a tourist journey and subsequently examined through cultural description and analysis. The study adopts the concept of “rapid ethnography,” which suggests that attentive observation, despite its limited duration, can reveal profound meanings embedded in everyday life without claiming a comprehensive understanding of the community under study. Ten phenomena were examined, including the cleanliness of mosques and public facilities, the commemoration of Thursday night through prayers upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the perception of Hajj as a moral transformation, family cooperation and youth empowerment, local breakfast culture, recycling practices, respect for privacy, intergenerational complementarity, the symbolic role of tea in hospitality, and appreciation of the Turkish and Arabic languages. The findings reveal the interaction of religion, environment, and social values in shaping everyday practices, as well as the local community’s ability to preserve its identity while engaging with tourism and modernity. The study concludes that focused observations can provide an initial approach to understanding cultural transformations, while emphasizing the need for broader and longer-term field studies.