Cultural geography of the city of Çorum (According to the elements of material culture)

Çorum Province is located in the inner part of the Central Black Sea Region and northern Central Anatolia. Çorum borders Amasya to the east, Yozgat to the south, Çankırı to the west, Sinop to the north, Samsun to the northeast, and Kırıkkale to the southwest. The province, including its capital, consists of 14 districts and lies east of Çorum Stream at about 800 meters altitude. Geographically, it is surrounded by the western extensions of the Canik Mountains in the north and northeast, the Bozok Plateau in the south, the Kızılırmak River in the east, and the eastern extensions of the Ilgaz Mountains in the northwest. Historically an agricultural and service-oriented city before the Republic, Çorum experienced rapid urbanization in the latter half of the 20th century. Strategically located on the corridor connecting Central Anatolia and the Black Sea Region, Çorum has hosted various civilizations and integrated diverse cultures. This study, titled "Cultural Geography of Çorum City (According to Material Cultural Elements)," aims to explore and present the cultural accumulation and landscape shaped by the residents of Çorum from past to present through cultural geography. For this purpose, qualitative research methods, particularly ethnographic approaches, were employed. Initially, the research involved situational analysis and literature review of prior studies. Subsequently, field studies utilized on-site observation, a key ethnographic data collection method, alongside unstructured interviews with local residents. After fieldwork, data from observations, interviews, and literature were analyzed using document analysis. Visual aids such as maps, tables, graphs, and field photographs were included to enhance comprehensibility. The study concludes that material cultural elements, including residential clothing, and gastronomic culture, have been significantly influenced by the region's natural environment and cultural heritage.