Kürecik: Bir Kültür Sınır Bölgesi — Pastoral Ritüeller, Dövme Geleneği ve Halk İnançlarının Kültürel Katmanları Üzerine Etnografik Bir İnceleme

This study examines traditional cultural practices observed in the Kürecik region of the Akçadağ district in Malatya province within the framework of cultural stratification and cultural frontier concepts. The research analyzes a range of cultural practices including women’s tattoo traditions, carpet and kilim motifs, the kufi headgear tradition, the ram mating ritual (koç katımı), horse culture, mule transportation using pack saddles (palan), and local folk beliefs.The study argues that these practices do not originate from a single cultural source but instead represent a layered cultural structure shaped by historical interactions between different cultural regions. Findings suggest that several practices observed in Kürecik show similarities with traditions associated with the Central Asian pastoral cultural sphere. These include the ram mating ritual, kufi felt headgear, the ram horn motif found in carpets, and elements of horse culture.On the other hand, women’s tattoo traditions and certain symbolic motifs display parallels with tattoo practices historically documented in the Mesopotamian cultural region. Folk practices such as tying cloth pieces to sacred trees and visiting shrines are interpreted within the broader framework of Anatolian folk belief traditions.The widespread bilingualism in the region, where both Kurdish and Turkish are commonly spoken, further reflects the cultural frontier character of the area. Within this context, Kürecik can be interpreted as a cultural frontier zone where different cultural layers intersect and coexist.The study suggests that local cultural practices should be understood not only as folkloric elements but also as parts of a symbolic system shaped by long-term cultural interaction. The Kürecik case provides an important ethnographic example for understanding cultural interaction and cultural stratification processes in Anatolia.