Investigation of dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling among unforgotten traditional wrestling (Malatya region)

Aim: The aim of this thesis study is to prevent forgetting of "dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling" and to shed light on such activities in the past. Dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling was one of the most important cultural activities held in the villages and towns of Malatya dating back long before 1800, which is not included in any visual and written documents. Material and Method: In our research cultural analysis study of qualitative research was applied. The "semi-structured interview form" developed by the researcher was used as data collection tool in the research. Our research group consists of 20 males aged 62-93 who participated in the dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling competitions as competitors or spectators in Malatya. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were applied to the interview data. Findings: Dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling is a common wrestling type dating back to 1800 and earlier on in the pioneer areas of grape cultivation called vineyard villages in Malatya. Even if there was a fierce competition between the villages where wrestling tournaments were held in the wedding ceremonies, hospitality was always present. Dutluk (mulberry field) wrestling was held 1 and 3 days before the weddings under the large mulberry trees near the stream. From the announcement and invitation of the wrestling to the region where the wrestlers and the spectators came to the wrestling event, all the activities were performed with its own rituals. The following themes related to dutluk wrestling have been found in the survey: History of Dutluk wrestling, purpose of dutluk wrestling, places where dutluk wrestling was held, organization of dutluk wrestling, techniques of wrestling, rewards of dutluk wrestling, and social effects of dutluk wrestling. Conclusion: Dutluk wrestling was done intensely between 1920-1950 in vineyard villages of Malatya, but after 1950, the frequency of making dutluk wrestling tournaments decreased gradually. On ground of the statements of the last witnesses, the last dutluk wrestling was held at a wedding in Banazı neighborhood of Yeşilyurt in 1976. Keywords: Wrestling, Dutluk Wrestling, Traditional Wrestling, Announcer, Reader