Şerefli, Adıyaman
Şerefli is a village in the District of Adıyaman, Adıyaman Province, Turkey.[1] 37°48'20.3"N 38°05'01.5"E Şerefli means honorable in Turkish. Contrary to the popular belief, this village is not ethnically Kurdish. Majority of the dwellers are descendants of a Turkish tribe popularly known as Karakecililer who were domiciled by Seljuk commander Ertugrul Gazi after 1071. The village is within 20 kilometers distance to Adiyaman Province's city center. Şerefli is surrounded by Elciler, Tepecik, Yaylakonak, Kusakli, and Gunesli villages. The village is perched on the periphery of a tor which is locally known as Sarikaya, literally translating to English as ''yellow rock''. Şerefli's west boundaries are marked by a fresh water stream known as ''Tilkihan brook'.
Şerefli | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Coordinates: 37°48'20.3"N 38°05'01.5"E | |
| Country |  Turkey |
| Province | Adıyaman Province |
| District | Adıyaman |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Geography
Akdag mountain, which is within Toros mountain systems, stretches from southwest to north around Şerefli village. Land forms are rippled degrassively from Sarikaya Tor located on the north to the agricultural planes on the south. Almost each height and valley has a name attributed by local dwellers. The hill which is located on the north east (coordinates 37.805089, 38.088731) is known as 'Kulluk Tepe' (kulluk is a local hat worn by females), the fertile valley located on the southeast is known as ''Cavurd'' (Coordinates 37°47'45.2"N 38°05'24.7"E), agricultural plantations on the north is known as ''Kayanin Onu'' (37°48'39.3"N 38°04'43.5"E), flat fields located on the south are known as ''Duz'' (37°48'00.6"N 38°04'47.9"E). There are also allegorical place names named after local historical figures such as Mışo'nun Cukuru.
Vegetation
Oak trees are sporadically existent at relatively higher elevations. Majority of the elevated locations have been subject to water and land erosion. Due to the long and dry summer seasons, grasslands and forest vegetation are at minute amount. Lands that are uncultivated are covered by wilding and scrub. Aquatic plants grow in In reeds and marshy places. Some of these aquatic plants like yarpuz, sirim, pincar are edible and regularly picked by locals every spring. Thorn apples, rose hips, turpentine trees, wild pears grow naturally without anthropogenic involvement.
Wild Animals
Falcons, hawks, owls, partridges, quails, sparrows, pigeons, crows are primary bird species. Capturing and petting partridges is a common hobby among local men. Hunting partridges and quails for dietary purposes is also popular. Sarikaya Tor hosts most of these bird species as its steep and rocky structure acts as a safe heaven. Local men do not welcome strangers with hunting purposes. Serefli people can get territorial and they even often abstain from hunting on a land owned by a different person. The occurrences of attempted homicides and bodily harms due to territorial disputes are not uncommon.
Rabbits, foxes, weasels are other wild animals living in the village's habitat.
Climate
Serefli village's summer weather trend can be classified as Csa on Koopen-Geiger climate classification system. It has long and dry summers. After the construction of Atatürk Dam, the increasing humidity levels likened the region's climate to Mediterranean climate. A considerable amount of precipitation is observed in cold winter months. August is the driest time of the year with a 1 mm average rain fall. 135 mm rainfall rate makes Decembers the month with the highest precipitation rate. July is the hottest month with an average 30.2 °C. An average temperature of 4.3 °C qualifies Januaries as the coldest month. The annual average temperature is 25.9 °C.
Agriculture
Serefli has fertile lands. The primary agricultural activity was tobacco cultivation until Turkish government imposed quota on tobacco harvests. The quota restrictions restrained the dweller's main income source dramatically, which caused a migration wave to cities in a pursuit of employment chances.
Fig, grape, apple, pistachio, wheat, lentil, chick pea, barley are primary products harvested by Serefli farmers.
History
The village has been known as Şerefli since the foundation of Ottoman Empire (1259). The founders of the village were Turkic people belonging to Amini group of Karakecililer Turkmen Tribe who moved into the region with Seljuk forays. The neighboring village, Kizilhisar, was also founded by Amini group of Karakecililer Turkmen Tribe.
The village community is very well known for their loyalty to governments. As traditionally observed in Turkmen tribes, they have always unconditionally accepted and supported the central governments. The Ottoman Empire used this Turkmen village as an outpost to keep the other villages populated by the Kurds and other minorities under surveillance and control. Likewise, the village has maintained its firm stand against Kurdish separatist organization PKK since 1980.
Turkish Army recruited the village's men as village guards in an effort to reinforce the army's anti-PKK campaign in the region. PKK threatened the village and plotted attacks for a couple of times. The Kurdish separatists considered Serefli village as a hostile base weakening their foothold in the region. Geographical and strategical knowledge of Serefli village guards boosted Turkish Armed Force's operations against the PKK which is listed as a terrorist organization by international authorities. PKK launched a night raid targeting the houses of village mukhtar (headman), mukhtar's brother, and the chief of village guards in the spring of 1991. Those targeted three households were accommodated by women, children, and civilians. The attacking PKK militants opened a barrage of gunfire by their AK47s, machine guns and sidearms. A hand grenade thrown into a house did not detonate. The assailants also attempted to launch a rocket propelled grenade but the reacting village guard's suppressive fire stopped them. PKK terrorists fled using the darkness of night as cover. One civilian woman was killed by PKK fire.
Serefli village is also known for its people's willingness to enlist in Turkish Armed Forces. Majority of Serefli men choose military and law enforcing careers. In Turkmen culture, one's forsaking his life for his country is considered to be holy, which is also known as martyrdom. Turkish Government entitles martyr title to the servicemen killed during military service. Specialist Sergeant Hakki Yildiz, a local Serefli man who chose military career, was entitled as martyr after he lost his life in a firefight against PKK in Bingol-Genc.
Serefli people take pride in their patriotism and state loyalty despite the threats and pressure from surrounding ethnic fractions.
Politics
Serefli ballot boxes usually yield to center-right parties. The ruling political party, AKP, has received the majority of the votes in elections since 2003. ANAP, MHP, DYP, and DP were the other popular political parties before AKP. Majority of Serefli dwellers supported the military coup done by General Kenan Evren on 12 September 1982.
Votes for liberal democrat parties and pro-Kurdish parties are not uncommon, either.
Transport
Adiyaman province is served by an airport and a coach station. Shuttle buses connect Serefli village with Adiyaman Province's city center.
References
- "Population of city, towns and villages - 2011". Turkish Statistical Institute. Retrieved 22 July 2012.