Wooden Handicraft as An Intangible Cultural Heritage Item in Kürtün (Gümüşhane) District

The study area is located in the Eastern Black Sea Region, within the borders of the Kürtün district of Gümüşhane. In this study, it is aimed to introduce wooden handicraft products as an intangible cultural heritage element in the district of Kürtün. It is also aimed to discuss the basic problems related to the production, marketing and related handicrafts of wooden handicrafts that are about to disappear in the region. While preparing the study, it was benefited from the field studies conducted during the summer periods of 2017-2018 and verbal interviews with the producers. In addition, a map related to the study area was prepared by using GIS techniques. While wood-based handicraft products were more common in the past in the study area, today they are produced in Kırgeriş Village and Yukari Uluköy District of Kürtün. In this workmanship, wooden kitchen tools produced from woodwork such as churn, kufas, ashes and flowerpots are handmade without using any metal or synthetic adhesive. The main problems regarding wooden handicraft products produced in the Kürtün region are related to the production and marketing stages. The problem related to the supply of raw materials that producers suffer from should be solved. Support can be obtained from Gümüşhane Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in this regard. Products are tried to be marketed directly by the manufacturers. Organizations should be established to evaluate the products produced. Continuity can be ensured in the production of these products by training new master candidates with the courses organized by the Kürtün Public Education Center. These products can also be marketed to tourists visiting the region by being exhibited in sales houses in the district center of Kürtün and Özkürtün Town.