Dung Use in Rural Southeastern Türkiye (Anatolia)
Meral Gökçen, Abu B. SiddiqThe people of southeastern Turkiye (Anatolia) have relied on animal husbandry since the Neolithic period, leading to the extensive use of animal dung in their daily lives for heating, baking, and building houses. However, despite the significance of this practice, no scientific studies have been conducted on the use of animal dung in traditional societies within the region. This article presents the findings of a 15-monthlong ethnographic study conducted in 11 villages of southeastern Turkiye, focusing on the utilization of animal dung by traditional pastoral and agropastoral communities. The primary objective of this study was to highlight the importance and diverse applications of different types of animal dung in traditional societies. Animal dung serves as a vital secondary resource for both domestic needs and ecological balance in these communities. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive documentation of dung usage techniques, including collection and storage methods for various types of animal dung. In addition, it explores the preferences and specific uses of certain types of dung within these traditional societies. Furthermore, the obtained data was analyzed and compared with different dung use practices in traditional societies across the globe. By doing so, this study contributes to bridging the gap in scientific knowledge regarding the use of animal dung in the traditional societies of southeastern Turkiye.
Güneydoğu Anadolu Kırsalında Hayvan Gübresi Kullanımı
Meral Gökçen, Abu B. SiddiqDünyadaki kırsal topluluklar sosyal ve ekonomik ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için farklı türlerden hayvan beslemektedirler. Hayvan besleyen toplumlar bu tür ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için yetiştirdikleri hayvanın gübresinden de faydalanmaktadır. Türkiye’nin Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Neolitik Dönemden itibaren insanlar tarım ve hayvancılığa dayalı bir yaşam sürdürmüştür. Dolayısıyla hayvan gübresi bölge insanlarının geçmişten günümüze çeşitli ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak açısından hayati bir rol oynamaktadır. Oynadığı önemli role rağmen bölgedeki yerel toplulukların hayvan gübresi kullanımı hakkında kapsamlı etnografik bir çalışma yapılmamıştır. Bu makale, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde yer alan 11 köyde yaşayan yerel toplulukların hayvan gübresi kullanımı üzerine 15 ay süren etnografik bir çalışmanın sonuçlarını sunmaktadır. Gözlemler, ısıtma, pişirme gibi hane içi ihtiyaçlarının yansıra, gübrenin ev yapımı, tarımda kullanımı gibi ekonomik ihtiyaçlar için de yoğun olarak tercih edildiğini göstermektedir. Bu çalışma ilk olarak, yerel toplulukların sosyo-ekonomik çerçevesine göre farklı hayvan türlerinden elde edilen gübre üretimi, depolama ve kullanım tekniklerini belgelemeye çalışmıştır. Elde edilen veriler ışığında daha sonra dünyanın farklı bölgelerinde yaşayan geleneksel topluluklardaki hayvan gübresi kullanımı ele alınmış ve incelenen köylerle karşılaştırılmıştır. Böylelikle bu araştırma, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesindeki geleneksel topluluklarda hayvan gübresi kullanımı hakkındaki etnografik bilgi boşluğunu doldurmaya katkı sunmaktadır.
Animal dung serves as a crucial supplementary resource extensively utilized by rural communities worldwide. Its diverse applications include cooking, heating, and serving as a significant building material. Traditionally, animal dung has also found application in agricultural fields. Moreover, it is utilized in disease treatment, pottery making, and various other processes. This multifaceted utility has entrenched animal dung as an indispensable component of rural life for millennia.
Since the Neolithic period, people in southeastern Turkiye have relied heavily on animal husbandry, making animal dung a cornerstone of rural life in the region. Despite its significant role in daily life and the rural economy, there has been a notable absence of systematic studies exploring the uses and cultural significance of animal dung in southeastern Turkiye. While the importance of meat and dairy products in local communities is well documented, a knowledge gap exists regarding the cultural significance of animal dung in the region. This dearth of data hampers our understanding of the role of animal dung in rural livelihoods and its cultural importance in southeastern Turkiye. Consequently, it also poses challenges in developing educated guesses and developing comprehensive interpretations of the utilization of animal dung in archaeological societies within the region.
This study presents the findings of a 15-month ethnographic investigation into the uses and cultural significance of animal dung in rural communities in southeastern Turkiye. The research encompassed pastoral villages across the provinces of Mardin, Siirt, Diyarbakır, and Şanlıurfa. Data were gathered from 11 rural settlements, including Leblebitaş and Murattaşı villages in Diyarbakır; Çıkrık, Eğriçay, and Ertem villages in Şanlıurfa; Kekliktepe village in Siirt; and Göllü, Soğanlı, and Kütüklü villages, as well as Ortaköy and Ekinlik neighborhoods in Mardin.
The ethnographic research spanned for 15 months, from November 2021 to January 2023, encompassing observations of dung use across all seasons. Particular attention was paid to discerning variations in dung utilization in response to different weather conditions throughout the year. Weather fluctuations directly influence dung preparation methods and usage patterns. Thus, pastoral settlements included in the study were visited during each season, and regular observations were conducted to document stages such as collection, processing, storage, and preservation of dung according to seasonal changes. Information was gathered on how dung is managed and stored within households during hot, dry, rainy, and cold weather conditions.
Given that the predominant animal species raised in the region are cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and camels, the study initially documented the varied uses of dung from these different animals. Moreover, recognizing that distinct socio-cultural settings can impact resource utilization in rural areas, variables such as the socio-economic status of dung users, gender-based division of labor related to dung preparation, and traditional cultural associations with dung use were considered during field observations. Furthermore, the collected data were compared with dung usage practices in diverse rural settings worldwide.
A significant number of families in these villages face economic challenges and the consequences of deforestation, leading to an inability to afford an adequate supply of firewood and fuel. Consequently, they heavily rely on animal dung to address this issue. Despite the societal perception that using dung for winter heating is associated with lower social status, during the harsh winter months, nearly all families experiencing financial hardships turn to animal dung for heating their homes. In addition, almost all households in these villages use dung-cakes (tezek) for baking tandir bread, which they bake regularly. The majority of lowincome families store dried dung cakes to sustain their needs throughout the year.
In terms of household responsibilities, while men typically oversee animal grazing activities, it is predominantly the women’s responsibility to clean barns and prepare dung for various uses. Most farmers integrate animal dung into their agricultural fields at least once every two years. Low-income families in these villages continue to construct adobe houses, where animal dung and urine are recognized as essential elements in the construction process. People also rely on animal dung for various other irregular purposes, including using it as bait in winter hunting, as a medicinal ingredient for treating ailments or for body tattooing purposes, and even as a substitute for dishwashing agents. These multifaceted usages underscore the indispensable role of animal dung in the daily lives of rural southeastern Anatolia (Turkiye).
