Abstract:

In the period considered in this study, conservation activities were carried out along with re-structuring of the newly established Republic of Turkey. Therefore, sometimes problems were lived. While studying the development of conservation consciousness in 1938-1960, the existing situation in 1938 is first stated. Then, the developments in 1938-1960 explained, and finally the situation reached in 1960 is expressed. In this context, the first section is briefly summarized the period before 1938 in “The heritage from Ottoman Empire to Young Republic and new organization tried to be created in republican era”. The second section “The period of 1938-1960” discusses the protection awareness in 1938-1960. In the last section, “Heritage to the following era”, the conservation consciousness reached in 1960 is given. All developments in the periods discussed should be evaluated by considering the conditions of the each period. These are the periods in which a new state is constructed, and thus many shortcomings, most importantly economic deficiencies and the lack of trained manpower, were there. Despite all these difficulties, it was tried to complete this process with current economic resources and trained manpower as well as benefiting from Western specialists. This study concluded that the structure formed by “the tradition of foundation” effectively serve the mission of conservation of cultural and historical heritage until the first quarter of nineteenth century although the conservation consciousness did not occur in modern sense. A recession period during approximately one hundred years was entered due to the corruption in the structure of tradition of foundation by the time. Completion of new Turkey Republic’s establishment and re-structuring activities, and foundation of Real Estate Antiquities and Monuments Supreme Council (GEEAYK) which organizes the area of conservation of cultural and historical heritage are very important steps in development of the conservation consciousness.

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