Garment accessories employed in the works of art of the Gokturks

The subject of the thesis consists of garment accessories such as earrings, necklaces, headgears, belts etc employed in the works of art of the Gokturks. In this context, the first chapter primarily aims to present some information with regard to the geographical,historical, religious and socio-economic background of the Gokturks in order to offer some insights into the environment in which the art of works in questions were produced. Second chapter begins with a general look-at the clothing of pre-Islamic Turks and continues with the subheads classifying the garment accessories of the Gokturks whilst Chapter three examines some selected examples from the garment accessories employed in the works of art of the Gokturks. Chapter four includes the comparative analysis of the selected examples in the catalog, chapter three. The last chapter presents the results of the first three chapter as a whole. The primary sources used in the thesis are the written evidence and the archaeological artifacts exhibited in museums or located in-situ in the field. Secondary sources include various publications such as articles, books, book chapters, excavation and survey reports. The most used sources in the first chapter are in Turkish, English and the translated Chinese documents, while in second chapter Turkish, Russian and the other Turkic languages of the Central Asia. In examining the artifacts, such stylistic features as motifs and designs of the garment accessories revealed during the archaeological excavations are presented as well as their AutoCAD drawings are included. The explicit similarities and connections between the garment accessories seen on the surfaces of the art of the Gokturks and the accessory finds found in various archaeological excavations manifest a common and widespread- fashion reflected in every aspect of art and handcraft.