DEPOPULATED TURKISH VILLAGES IN WESTERN THRACE: THE CASE OF DAGKARAMUSA VILLAGE

Abstract

Particularly in rural areas, "deserted/depopulated" settlements are frequently encountered. The underlying factors can be political, geographical, economic, or demographic. Emigration is one of the most frequently mentioned factors among all these. Mobility of people with different motivations, in most cases, creates residential areas that have become depopulated. The emigrations experienced in Western Thrace have created a large number of depopulated settlements. The nature of this process, its causes, and the number of settlements currently lying in ruins top the list of issues ignored by studies on Western Thrace. In this study, Western Thrace Turks are dealt with the "depopulated" places they left behind in the post-migration period. The issue of depopulated villages in Western Thrace and their reasons are examined through a representative example. Dagkaramusa village and its process of "depopulation" are the research subject. Oral history interviews were held with two participants who emigrated from Dagkaramusa on different dates. During the interviews, the sketch drawing technique was used. Explanations in the field claim that the Greek state has been following policies and implementing practices aimed at cleansing the region from the Turkish population. Similarly, findings show that Greece directly intervened to depopulate Dagkaramusa.