Gravestones in the Heyiketei Cemetery of Darende
In this doctoral thesis, the tombstones in Darende Heyiketei Cemetery in Malatya Province
were examined. A total of 724 tombstones, including 619 headstones and 105 footstones,
were identified in Darende Heyiketei Cemetery. The number of female headstones
is 270 and the number of male headstones is 336. The gender of 21 gravestones could
not be determined. When the headstones are examined, the existence of 627 graves is
certain. While the dates of 255 of the tombstones in Darende Heyiketei Cemetery have
been determined, the dates of 231 tombstones could not be determined because they did
not have an inscription or were extremely damaged, 139 of them only had their headpieces
survived to the present day, and 2 of them were buried. The earliest dated tomb is
dated Dhu’l-Qa’dah 981 Hijri / A.D. February-March 1574, and the latest is dated Hijri
1336 / A.D. 1917-1918. 2 of the gravestones belong to the 16th century, 4 to the 17th
century, 57 to the 18th century, 185 to the 19th century and 7 to the 20th century. 720 of
them are made of stone and 4 of them are made of marble.
Tombstones have unique and rich shapes in terms of body horizontal section, capitals and
crowns. Very little space was given to gravestone decorations. The inscriptions are very
simple in terms of calligraphy and workmanship. In terms of content, findings and documents
that will shed light on Darende’s art, history, social and literary life have been found.
The Ottoman tombstones in Darende Heyiketei Cemetery are remarkable as they
reflect regional characteristics as well as unique elements.
Keywords: Art History; Grave Culture; Darende; Heyiketei; Tombstone.