The evaluation of conservation practice in Turkey via the framework of international conservation charter and the world heritage convention: Case of Mardin

Anatolian cities which are the richest regions of the world in terms of historical layers, the social and cultural accumulations formed by the settlement of different cultural groups from the prehistoric times and the transformation of the space in direction of their purpose left a trace on the urban land and enabled the historical settlements to form the city's unique construction characteristic and urban identity. Nations are trying to adapt the conservation approaches to their own systems which are framed in international platforms and world-wide and enforced by leading institutions and organizations. Each country realizes this situation in the context of its internal dynamics. The concept of conservation, which began to take place in the 19th century, continued with the organizational process of institutional structures. For example, European archaeological research and restoration discussions were reflected into the Ottoman Empire's enlightenment process and the first step of conservation approaches was taken with the Asar-i Attika Nizamnamesi which was firstly published in 1869. The legislation of conservation, is still undergoing changes, within the adoption of new concepts and approaches. In this context, considering the World and Turkey's conservation legislation history it is seen that some declarations, bylaws, some of managerial and financial structures, which forms a basis for historical environmental conservations acts in the World, were transferred to Turkey's conservation approach. However some of them were never taken or subtracted. This study aims to examine the main legal and institutional arrangements and policies on conservation in context of Mardin City, which is one of the unique example where multi-cultural and spatial features of Anatolia continue to survive in today's World. It is also intended to evaluate the concordance in process of conservation legislation between Turkey and the World via Mardin's nomination in UNESCO World Heritage List as a "Cultural Landscape Area". This study denotes different approaches in global and national conservation concepts, conceptual changes caused by compliance and interaction process. Thus, it contributes to detection of possible implementation problems and development of solutions.