Kemaliye Water Mill as an Example of Tangible Cultural Heritage

One of the important structures among the examples of tangible cultural heritage is water mills,which are rural architectural structures. Water mills are important production sites where wheatand corn, which are basic food sources, are turned into flour or grinded. In addition to being placeswhere grains are ground, mills also attract attention as places where people chat, various purchasesare made, and social accumulation is transferred from generation to generation. Folksongs, poems, various folk beliefs and narratives have survived to this day in and around theseplaces. Since his existence, man has tried to meet his needs by taking advantage of the opportunitiesoffered by nature. He invented tools and machines for production purposes; establishedfacilities. Mills are in close relationship with the climate of the regions in which they are located,both in terms of their location and construction materials. There are regions in Anatolia wherewater mills continue to function, albeit rarely, due to land conditions or other geographical reasons.The mill in Kemaliye district of Erzincan is one of them. The mill building has survived to thepresent day, largely preserving its originality. It is of particular importance because it is the lastmill operating in the district and even the province. In this study, water mills, which are one of themost important examples of folk architecture of our rural cultural heritage, will be evaluated interms of architecture, on the example of Kemaliye, with reference to their geographical features.It will be focused on what arrangements can be made to protect and keep the mill alive. This millis of great importance as it continues to function. It has been suggested that landscaping aroundthe mill, which is a rural architectural structure, will contribute to local tourism, and it has beenevaluated in terms of its usability.