A study shows similarities between Yuruks and Indians
by Anadolu Agency
ANTALYAAug 19, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Anadolu Agency
Aug 19, 2015 12:00 am
Assistant professor of Akdeniz University's Faculty of Fine Arts Mehmet Ali Eroğlu, who has been working on "a project of comparison of the motifs and symbols between Native American and Anatolian cultures" for five years, has said that interesting similarities have been found between the Yuruk and Native American cultures.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Eroğlu said that as part of the project, he went to the United States six times in the last five years and analyzed the cultural life of the Indians living in Texas and Arizona and also observed Yuruk people – a Turkic group of people who are mostly nomadic and inhabit the mountains of Anatolia - in Turkey. He also worked as a visiting academic at Florida Atlantic University, where he found an opportunity to be a guest in many Indian clans in the region.
"There are many similarities found between the two cultures in regards of customs, motifs, symbols and food culture. For example, you may see typical Yuruk foods such as fried diced lamb or Boortsog on Indian food-tables too. Some motifs on Indian rugs are not just similar but exactly the same as Yuruks'. For example, the eagle is a frequently used motif by Turks, and has been for thousands of years. We were also surprised to see that figure on Indian rugs, as well as star and crescent ornaments. Both societies were culturally closed to the outside world. Some of the Indians that I spoke to there also believe they are associated historically to Central Asia."
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