Abstract:

Since the 19th century, Ahıska Turks have migrated as masses from the Caucasus to Anatolia in order to settle by abandoning the country where they were in due to some reasons such as economic, political, religious reasons. Similar to other regions, the Afyonkarahisar region, which is connected to Anatolia by means of the railroad which is one of important transportation vehicles, has been affected Caucasian refugees such as Turkmens, Circassians and Ahıska Turks. The local culture in this region has become more colorful after the addition of some elements from these refugees’ culture, because these masses have brought their culture with them. The Ahıska Turks, who constituted a separate village in Değirmendere located on the Afyonkarahisar - Konya highway, have continued to preserve their historical elements and geographical features in this new settlement. Although they have been adapting to the economic life of the region they settle in shortly, they continue their lifestyles learned from their ancestors by keeping their culture closed in this village. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the cultural wealth of Ahıska Turks living in Değirmendere expressed for Afyonkarahisar by examining documents, memorabilia, periodicals and researches related to this topic, according to history science.

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