Traditional professions that are face to be lost in the city center of Muş

Traditional professions are one of the most important cultural elements that help us to figure out the lifestyle, taste and aesthetic understanding of societies. With the increase of mechanization and the rapid progress of technology societies have experienced great changes in terms of their lifestyles, and this situation has affected traditional professions negatively. The lack of demand for the products produced by the craftsmen with a great care, the difficulties in producing process of new products, and the decrease in the income of these professions which causes inability to recruit apprentices and train new masters have caused many traditional professions to be disappeared. In the central district of Muş, there are still many traditional professions that maintain their connection with the past and produce products with traditional methods. However, professions that continue their existence with traditional methods in Muş have started to diminish day by day, and the professions that had a great importance for the region in the past are now living their last period with their last masters. In this study, the professions that are on the verge of being disappearing in Muş were discussed. First of all, the knowledge about the geographical features and economic structure of Muş province was given. Then, information about the professions, which are tried to be kept alive with their last masters in Muş, such as blacksmithing, stove making, knife sharpening, cheese making, quilt making and tandoori making was presented; and followingly based on what the masters we interviewed said, the differences between the past and present of these professions were mentioned. From the masters we interviewed, information about the future status of their professions, why the profession is on the verge of disappearing, and why apprentices and masters cannot be trained was obtained. Determinations and suggestions were received from our masters who continue their professions with traditional methods in order to carry on their occupations.The absence of any previous study on the disappearing professions in Muş has been effective in conducting this study. In the study, data were obtained by conducting field research, and observation and interview techniques were used in the field research. At the end of the interviews, information and opinions were gathered from the primary source. In this study, it was interviewed with the most experienced (and well-known ones by local people) masters of six different professions, and in these interviews; information about the process of production, used tools during production, and whether they can train apprentices or not; in other words, information about the past, present, and future of their professions was collected. After considering the informations obtained, suggestions were made in terms of ensuring the continuity of these professions.