Reading The Cultural Landscape Through Place Names: A Micro-Toponymic Analysıs of Three Villages Around Safranbolu

Micro-toponyms in the cultural landscapes of three villages around Safranbolu reveal a multi-layered heritage that intertwines natural components, tangible and intangible values, and historical processes. The analysis of 210 place names shows that approximately 45% relate to geographical and biological features such as water resources, landforms, vegetation, and wildlife; 21% pertain to archaeological and tangible cultural heritage; and 22% reflect intangible values like production methods, ethnic origins, and beliefs. These toponyms serve as essential cultural heritage elements, carrying traditional land-use practices, historical processes, socio-economic values, and collective memory. The study underscores the importance of integrating micro-toponyms into holistic heritage management strategies to address conservation challenges driven by depopulation, human intervention, and natural disasters.

Karataş, E., & Heyik, M. A. (2026). Reading The Cultural Landscape Through Place Names: A Micro-Toponymic Analysıs of Three Villages Around Safranbolu. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.22831548