Ottoman Mounting Stones Preserve Vestiges of Historical Urban Transit in Istanbul

 

Ottoman Mounting Stones Preserve Vestiges of Historical Urban Transit in Istanbul

Scattered across historical neighborhoods in Istanbul, surviving stone structures known as binek taşları (mounting stones) preserve physical traces of pre-modern urban transportation. Originally installed outside mosques, mansions, and public squares during the Ottoman era, these elevated stone blocks enabled horseback riders, carriage passengers, and elderly citizens to mount and dismount with ease.

• Source: Daily Sabah

Fatih Municipality Restores Historic Ottoman Burial Sites to Safeguard Local Heritage

 

Fatih Municipality Restores Historic Ottoman Burial Sites to Safeguard Local Heritage

As part of the "Miras Fatih" heritage preservation initiative, Istanbul's Fatih Municipality has undertaken comprehensive restoration work across historic Ottoman-era burial grounds (hazire).

Specialists from the municipality's Cultural Heritage Directorate catalog, repair, and re-erect fallen or damaged gravestones affected by environmental conditions and decay. Restored sites include the Ucbas Nureddin Hamza Hazire and the Hakikizade Lodge Hazire, which serve as open-air archives documenting local calligraphic styles, urban history, and social structure.

• Source: Türkiye Today Article

Artisans Preserve 400-Year-Old Ottoman Cymbal-Making Craft in Istanbul

 

Artisans Preserve 400-Year-Old Ottoman Cymbal-Making Craft in Istanbul

Master craftsmen in Istanbul continue to handcraft bronze cymbals using metalworking techniques passed down through 400 years of Ottoman history. Originally developed for Ottoman military mehter bands to create acoustic resonance during military marches, the craft evolved after 17th-century secrets were developed by local artisans.

Today, cymbalsmiths in small local workshops manually hammer bronze alloy discs into specialized musical instruments sought after globally by classical ensembles and modern jazz percussionists.

• Sources: Daily Sabah Article | Ground News Summary

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