Migration from Artvin to Bursa and evaluation of cultural accumulation

Abstract

In this study, the cultural accumulation of immigrants and their use of traditional life knowledge during their process of adaptation to new urban environments are investigated. The research focuses on people from Artvin who migrated to Bursa. The cultural activities of residents of Artvin who live in Bursa observed and interviews were conducted. According to 2018 TÜİK data, Bursa has the highest population of people living outside Artvin who continue to be registered in the province of Artvin. The population of Artvin is concentrated in certain districts in the province, including Yıldırım, Gürsu, Osmangazi, and Kestel. Having lived rural lives with close interaction with nature, this population actively practices its rural knowledge and experience in areas such as housing, food production, environmental use, and social relations. Therefore, using this traditional knowledge, migrants bring to the table the human-made products that they have developed in harmony with the environment. Behavior’s performed with residential construction knowledge constitute an important example for cultural ecology. These elements include housing construction, land ownership and quality, traces of highland culture, food culture, social activities, and the use of local words. In the context of maintaining harmony and belonging in the city, migrants from Artvin have sought to preserve social relations and cultural relations by keeping alive their social organizations.