Rural characteristics and preservation problems of Narhisar settlement, Milas

Rural heritage places, with their socio-cultural and memorial values,local production traditions and local architecture, are important components of the cultural heritage. In order to preserve these rural heritage places with a sustainable approach, their local architecture; local life and production areas besides the cultural landscape and cultural routes are to be protected with a holistic approach. The scientific and academic studies aim to perceive the rural areas as a heritage site, and to protect their natural and artificial environment as cultural assets. The main focus of these studies is to sustain the rural character with their local life and local users. In this framework, this study focuses on Narhisar settlement, a rural heritage in whichthe tangible and intangible heritage values are protected while local houses, rural life style, agricultural production and related structures are sustained. The aims of the study are to identify the cultural and architectural values of Narhisar, to define the preservation issues of the settlement and to suggest proposals to sustain the rural character of it. The rural character of the settlement consists of agricultural production and the structures that supports these production systems. Pavements of the streets and the garden walls made of slate; the local dwellings that located compatible with the topography and constructed by local techniques, materials and crafts; rural equipment such as stables, hobs, wells, olive oil studios; warehouses and poultries are the main components of the rural character of Narhisar. However, the rural heritage of Narhisar is under risk due to itspreservation problems such as abandonment of locals; decrease in agricultural production; economic insufficiency; changes in life style and uncertainty in the legal regulations.Thus, within the scope of the study, cultural values of the rural heritage of Narhisar are identified, preservation problems of the settlement are discussed, and the proposals to sustain the rural character and to provide the socio-economic development are suggested .