GYUMRI AS A SOCIO-CULTURAL UNFINISHED CITY: ORAL NARRATIVES, MEMORY AND IDENTITY RECONSTRUCTION AFTER THE DISASTER

Objective: This research examines the socio-cultural incompleteness of Gyumri as a phenomenon emerging from oral memories, dreams, visions, and local narratives shaped by the 1988 earthquake. It analyzes how these mnemonic forms construct the city’s contemporary identity, influence the collective consciousness of its residents, and function as mechanisms of cultural memory that reinterpret disaster. Theoretical Framework: Grounded in the interdisciplinary perspectives of cultural memory studies, urban anthropology, and trauma theory, this research conceptualizes the socio-cultural incompleteness of Gyumri as a dynamic product of post-disaster collective memory and narrative reconstruction. Method: The study employs a qualitative approach integrating ethnographic observation, in-depth interviews, and narrative analysis of oral forms related to the 1988 earthquake. These methods identify symbolic structures and cultural mechanisms of Gyumri to form a unique urban chronotope with unfinished time, endless expectation and the active presence of the past. Results and Discussion: Findings reveal that the city’s identity is continuously reconstructed through collective storytelling, which transforms traumatic memory into cultural continuity. The narratives function as living archives, enabling residents to negotiate between loss and renewal while redefining the emotional and spatial boundaries of Gyumri. Research Implications: The study contributes to understanding how post-disaster societies regenerate meaning and cohesion through vernacular memory practices. It also provides insights into the role of intangible heritage in shaping urban resilience and identity reconstruction. Originality/Value: This research offers an innovative interpretation of urban incompleteness as a socio-psychological and cultural phenomenon rooted in collective memory and everyday storytelling.