FROM ARCHAEOLOGY TO ARCHIVES: DOCUMENT-BASED RECONSTRUCTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE CASE OF BALIKESIR

Abstract

This study examines the multi-layered cultural structure of Balıkesir through the lens of information and records management, discussing the document-based reconstruction of cultural heritage by analyzing archaeological findings, historical documents, and traces of spatial memory. From ancient cities to Ottoman-era probate records, from sites associated with the Armenian community to architectural transformations of the Republican period, the analysis encompasses a wide variety of sources and demonstrates that cultural continuity is not solely a physical phenomenon but also a document-based process. Arguing for the digitization, classification, and public accessibility of archaeological and historical data, the study establishes a holistic connection between local history and the discipline of information and records management. In this regard, the research proposes a strategic model for the preservation of local memory and offers a meaningful contribution to interdisciplinary studies of cultural heritage. Through its extensive use of diverse sources ranging from ancient settlements to Ottoman probate documents and beyond, the study underscores that cultural continuity relies as much on documentation as on physical traces. By advocating for the systematic digitization and dissemination of such data, it builds a conceptual and practical bridge between heritage studies and the field of information science.is study examines the multi-layered cultural structure of Balıkesir from the perspective of information and records management, discussing the document-based reconstruction of cultural heritage through archaeological findings, historical documents, and traces of spatial memory. Spanning a wide range of sources—from ancient cities to Ottoman-era probate records, from sites associated with the Armenian community to structural transformations of the Republican period—the analysis reveals that cultural continuity is not merely a physical phenomenon but also a documentary process. The study argues that archaeological and historical data should be digitized, systematically classified, and made publicly accessible, thereby establishing an integrated link between local history and the discipline of information and records management. In this respect, the research proposes a strategic model for preserving local memory and contributes significantly to interdisciplinary studies of cultural heritage.