'Traditional Ahlat Stonemasonry' in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

One of Turkey's cultural elements has been taken under protection as an intangible world heritage. “Traditional Ahlat Stonemasonry” has been registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List Requiring Urgent Protection.

One of the best examples of the protection of tangible and intangible heritage, “Traditional Moroccan Stonework” was evaluated at the 17th Intergovernmental Committee Meeting for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco this year.

“Traditional Ahlat Stonemasonry”, which was nominated on behalf of Turkey with the file prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was recorded on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List Requiring Urgent Protection in today's session of the meeting that started on 28 November.

Now it's time for our other elements

Now, there are “Tea Culture”, “Nasreddin Hodja Tradition of Telling Jokes” and “Silk Insectivory and Traditional Production of Silk for Weaving”. These files will also be evaluated at the same meeting.

Turkey so far; “Meddahlik”, “Mevlevi Sema Ceremony”, “Aşıklık Tradition”, “Nevruz (Multinational)”, “Karagöz”, “Traditional Sohbet Meetings”, “Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival”, “Alevi-Bektashi Ritual: Whirling Dervish”, “Ceremonial Cheesecake Tradition”, “Mesir Paste Festival”, “Turkish Coffee Culture and Tradition”, “Marbling: Turkish Paper Decoration Art”, “Traditional Tile Mastery”, “The Culture of Baking and Sharing Fine Bread (Multinational)”, “Spring Celebration: Hıdrellez (Multinational)”, “The Language of Whistling”, “The Legacy of Dede Korkut: Epic Culture, Folk Tales and Music”, “Traditional Turkish Archery”, “Traditional Intelligence and Strategy Game: Mangala (Multinational)”, “Miniature Art (Multinational)” and “Hüsn-i Calligraphy” were registered in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

Turkey, which is among the top 4 countries to register the most items on the Cultural Heritage Lists and has been a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage twice, is shown as one of the exemplary countries in the eyes of UNESCO with its work in the field of intangible cultural heritage.