Sociological research on woodworking (The case of Antalya)

Cultural and religious heritage, which has been important in understanding social relations throughout human history, appears with different appearances in today's modern world. On this basis, Tahtacıs, which is the subject of the study, has settled into a settled life and has a new lifestyle after long years of woodworking in forests with their cultural characteristics. The aim of the study is to reveal to what extent Tahtacıs can realize their lifestyles, traditions and cultures today, their problems and expectations. Based on this basis, Elmalı Akçaeniş Village and Manavgat Gültepe Neighborhood, which host the Tahtacı population of Antalya province, have been determined as working areas. In the study prepared with a qualitative research design, data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 30 people and interview technique. A comparative content analysis of the data obtained in terms of identity, religion, social relations, economic characteristics and spatial context was conducted. According to the results of the study, it was found that Tahtacıs lost their closed social structure to a great extent, their social ties were weakened, and their traditions, customs and lifestyles changed with their socio-economic conditions. Although individuals define themselves with Tahtacı identity, it has been determined that they cannot fully realize their cultural and religious practices with the effect of modernization and settled life. In this sense, the field of study is handled from a historical perspective in a comparative way and its new views and the reasons for differentiation have been put forward sociologically. Keywords: Tahtacıs, Cultur, Identity, Communal Change, Place.