Academics map Istanbul gravestones to preserve heritage
A state-backed project launched two years ago has academics mapping and cataloging historic gravestones across Istanbul’s iconic mosque courtyards, safeguarding centuries of architectural and historical data.
The Islamic Inscriptions and Gravestones Inventory Project operates under the auspices of the Presidency with support from the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
An eight- to 10-person team conducts active fieldwork in the Üsküdar district, photographing each stone, recording precise measurements and capturing GPS coordinates immediately upon entering a site.
Data from headpiece types, plan and section features, decorations and script forms is entered into the ministry’s Museum National Inventory System after a detailed expert examination process. Istanbul Medeniyet University art history faculty member Professor Kadir Pektaş coordinates the work.
