Geopark in Salihli District of Manisa Are Processed Into Durable Casseroles and Pots With the Pottery Tradition Passed Down

Volcanic rocks within the borders of the UNESCO Global Geopark in Salihli district of Manisa are processed into durable casseroles and pots with the pottery tradition passed down from generation to generation. Volcanic rocks removed from the Geopark area are crushed into powder in grinding machines after being carried to houses by the men of the neighborhood. Mud is prepared by blending the stone dust obtained with clay extracted from water beds.

Women shape clay on benches in the courtyards of their homes and produce casseroles and pottery. Men undertake the cooking and marketing stages. Thanks to the natural durability and shine Pottery, which constitutes the main source of income for 25 households in the neighborhood with a population of 1830, is sent abroad as well as to different provinces of Türkiye through merchants.

There is high demand for products, especially before Eid-al-Adha. Pottery master Emine Tangüç, who has been continuing the craft she learned in her father's house for nearly 30 years, said that they love their work despite the difficult production process. Emphasizing that pottery is a legacy that has been built on the shoulders of women in the neighborhood for centuries, Tangüç said that a great deal of effort and patience goes into every pot they shape with their hands.

Stating that they started working at the bench in the early hours of the morning, Tangüç explained that they continue to work with all their strength to pass on this ancestral profession to future generations, despite all the difficulties. Tangüç stated that they earn their living from this craft and said, "God bless us, we earn our living and get by on it. We have a demanding job, but we are happy with our situation.

"Our sales are generally regular, but the demand increases even more during the Eid al-Adha period, he said. Sabriye Balkan, one of the master women in the neighborhood, stated that she has been doing the job for 30 years and stated that production requires a lot of effort. Explaining that mud is prepared by kneading it like dough, Balkan said: "I learned this profession from my father at a young age."