Alevi "Ocaks" in the Diyarbakır region: History, belief and tradition

The information about subject, scope, aim and method of the study is given in the introduction part of our study titled, "Alevi Ocaks in the Diyarbakir Region: History, Belief and Tradition". The 1st chapter includes search for a solution to classification problem within Alevi belief system, with historical references, and determinations, evaluations and solutions concerning concepts and terms specific to Alevism. The 2nd chapter contains determinations and evaluations on the historical past of Alevi communities on the basis of written and oral sources. In this chapter, along with documents and sources about the history of the province, documents such as "secername", "icazetname" ve "erkan" record, which were obtained from personal archives during field works, and Diyarbakir cadastral record books from 16th century, obtained from state archives, are analyzed comparatively with oral history and their evaluations are given accordingly. The subject of the 3rd chapter are rituals performed by Alevi "ocaks" in the province. This chapter gives detailed information on "cem" rituals and other belief based rituals performed in the province by classifying them under three main headings. In the 4th chapter, "cem" rituals, performed among communities which are connected to Alevi "ocaks" in the province, are divided to structural units with structural analysis within the scope of folklore theories and methods. Functional characteristics of institutionalized services and changes of these characteristics are given after this structural analysis. As for the conclusion part, it includes findings, suggestions and discussions obtained as a result of determinations, evaluations and analyses done in the study. After the conclusion part, the study is finalized with Bibliography, Index of Sources and Appendix. Key words: Alevi, Diyarbakir, "ocak", "cem", ritual.