Traditions are among the elements that distinguish societies from one another and provide each community with a unique cultural identity. Burial customs constitute one of these cultural elements. Indeed, the phenomenon of death has occupied the human mind since the beginning of human existence and has been one of the fundamental factors shaping ways of life. This article examines burial traditions within the context of both historical Turkic culture and contemporary Kirkuk Turkmens. The concepts of death and burial among early Turkic communities—namely inhumation, cremation, and exposure to nature—are discussed through archaeological evidence and historical sources.
On the other hand, the burial customs of the Kirkuk Turkmens are analyzed. In this framework, Islamic practices such as the washing of the deceased, shrouding, the recitation of the Salā, the performance of the funeral prayer, burial procedures, and condolence rituals are evaluated in terms of how they have been integrated with Turkic cultural traditions. The article comparatively examines the elements of continuity and transformation between ancient Turkic burial traditions and the contemporary practices of the Kirkuk Turkmens.
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