Historic Cemeteries and Conservation Issues in the Context of Cultural Heritage and Sites of Memory: A Case Study on Maçka Şeyh Cemetery

Abstract

This article argues that historical cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also
significant sites where social memory is spatially produced and which contain the
tangible and intangible components of cultural heritage. Through a theoretical framework
grounded in the concepts of sites of memory and monument, the cultural value of
cemetery areas is examined, and conservation approaches from the Ottoman period to the
present are evaluated with support from international examples. In this context, Maçka
Şeyh Cemetery, located in Istanbul, is discussed as a case study; through documentation,
typological and damage analysis conducted in the area, and archival research, the
significant individuals buried there, their place in memory, and the need for conservation
are revealed. The study emphasizes that cemeteries should be considered not only with
their physical elements but also with the historical and cultural layers they carry, and it
highlights the importance of developing systematic conservation approaches and creating
practical guides for implementation.