Migration of a Tent Used by Turks from Turkistan to Anatolia: Topak Ev in Emirda？ and Other Regions

Throughout the history, every tribe developed a various type of domicile according to their geographical environment, social and economic characteristics. Despite nomad Turks living in the geography of steppes used different types of tents according to their needs, their main domicile was felt tents with wooden frameworks, called yurt. They also brought this tent culture to the geographies where they migrated. The first examples of the transition to settled life and change in domicile for various reasons after the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia, have been experienced in the tents.The Turks in Anatolia, used three different types of tents, namely, the black tent, felt house and topak ev. Anatolia is appropriate for nomad life and the difference in elevation is high between short distances. In addition, the rate of feeding goats that adapt to the rugged, woody and rainy lands of Anatolia, had been increased in popularity. With this change, goat hair has become cheaper and has become a tent cover and by this way, hair tents became widespread. On the other hand, topak ev made from felts with wooden framework got smaller and continued to be used by those who spent long times in summer pasture-winter quarters with harsh continental climate or those that are semi-nomads. Topak ev are the product of this cultural continuity and the change brought by the new conditions.This wooden frameworked felt tents, which are called topak ev, Derim house, or Bekdik tent, are a slightly smaller and simplified versions of the makeshift tents in Turkistan, under new conditions. Until recently, these tents have existed in regions of Anatolia with the continental climate. However, due to various reasons, they have been abandoned and black tent has taken its place. In this article, the origins, transformation, features and use of the tent called topak ev, which is used in Emirda？, were discussed comparatively and their continuity in Turkish culture was investigated