“Silent Witnesses of the Soil: A Journey Between History and Ethnic Identity in Alaca Mahmudiye Village”

Location
Alaca Mahmudiye Village (formerly known as Karahisar / Circassian Kalehisar) is a small settlement within the district of Alaca in Çorum Province, Turkey. Its population has fluctuated between 102 and 122 in recent years. The village lies approximately 16 km from the district center and about 37 km from Çorum city center, with geographical coordinates recorded as 40°16′31.6″ N and 34°43′0.5″ E.

Ethnic and Demographic Structure
The village population predominantly consists of Circassians belonging to the Abzakh tribe. As census data indicate, the settlement is characterized by small demographic scales: 102 inhabitants in 2022, and 122 in 2023.

Historical and Archaeological Value
Mahmudiye Village is situated in a region rich in ancient settlement history. Particularly in the area known as “Kalehisar,” traces of various civilizations have been identified. The site contains stratified cultural layers from the Hittite, Phrygian, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Beylik periods.
Archaeological excavations conducted jointly by Aydın Adnan Menderes University and Hitit University support the interpretation of the site as an Anatolian Seljuk urban center. Surviving components of the Seljuk-era complex include a madrasa, bathhouse, inn, and tomb. Additionally, remnants of a Hittite altar on the hill, Phrygian inscriptions and reliefs, and lion figures further reinforce the historical significance of the area.

Cultural and Touristic Potential
The Kalehisar archaeological zone constitutes a potential center for eco-tourism, hiking, and cultural heritage tourism. In 2023, within the framework of the centennial celebrations of the Republic, a hiking event was organized from Mahmudiye Village to Alacahöyük, accompanied by local offerings and a museum visit.

Socio-Economic Perspective & Local Agenda
Although the inhabitants continue to rely on traditional means of subsistence such as agriculture and livestock farming, detailed economic data remain scarce. The physical condition of public structures—such as the former school building—has been monitored by local administrators and evaluated through visits at the gubernatorial level.

Journalistic Perspective
From a journalistic viewpoint, Alaca Mahmudiye Village emerges not merely as an isolated rural settlement but as a locality with deep historical roots and potential for cultural-tourism development. Its ethnic composition, historical heritage, and village-centered communal activities lend themselves to narrative approaches in journalism, particularly in highlighting cultural bridges and human stories.

“Silent Witnesses of the Soil: A Journey Between History and Ethnic Identity in Alaca Mahmudiye Village”
Under this heading, the village’s archaeological legacy can be integrated with the local community’s identity and cultural memory. A thematic framework of “collective memory and material remnants of the past” enables the production of a narrative that is both academically grounded and journalistic in style.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Alaca Mahmudiye Village represents a rare example of a small yet historically and culturally rich settlement, where local traditions, ethnic identity, and archaeological heritage such as the citadel and Seljuk complex coexist. In this regard, the village provides fertile ground for producing academic as well as journalistic work capable of attracting both domestic and international readership.