Türk Coğrafya Dergisi

Öz

Rural dwellings, mainly shaped by the conditions of the natural environment, are under a great pressure from the reinforced concrete dwellings of the modern age. This pressure displays itself not only on the dwellings located at permanent rural premises but also on the dwellings on the Plateau spaces used at certain times of the year. The traditional dwellings of the Avacik Yaylasi of the Gerger district are also about to become extinct as a result of such a pressure. These dwellings which are called "Hol" by local people, shaped with the influence of the natural environmental conditions, are created by fortifying the cavities and coves on the mountainous space using stone materials again obtained from the site and its top being covered by oak branches and leaves. The mentioned dwellings contain characteristics that reflect the natural and cultural geographical conditions of the region in all respects. On one hand, the fact that transhumance activities that numerous households used to participate in the past has come to the point of extinction, on the other hand, improved the economic conditions partially and access to the yayla area by motorized vehicles has caused reinforced concrete structures have begun to be constructed. Because of these changes, the Hol dwellings to be used less and less and has exposed these dwellings to the threat of becoming extinct. This study focuses on the effect of changing socio-economic conditions on yayla dwellings differentiation in Gerger Avacik Yaylasi. The study was based on the observations made in the region and the interviews held with the people of the yayla settlement and social, economic and spatial changes in the region have been examined in terms of dwellings.