The eleven Ottoman gravestones identified in the cemetery of Yahyaçavuş Village clearly reflect the village’s settled social structure and social hierarchy during the 18th and 19th centuries. The majority of the stones are male gravestones, and their headpiece types and calligraphic styles demonstrate the classical Ottoman style of the period.
Honorific titles such as “Hacı,” “Ağa,” and “Efendi,” which appear frequently on the gravestones, point to the presence of individuals in the village with economic means and social prestige. On some stones, the father’s name is explicitly recorded, a feature that may allow future research into family connections and lineage relationships.
The inscriptions generally include:
- Religious opening formulas
- The name of the deceased and the father’s name
- A social or honorific title
- The Hijri year of death
- The prayer “For his soul, the Fātiha”
Although some gravestones are broken or heavily worn, they have been deliberately preserved and recorded in the catalogue due to their formal and stylistic characteristics.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 1
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: Largely legible, with some localized surface wear
Osmanlıca Metin (okunabildiği kadarıyla)
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
… بن …
طالبا من روح
الفاتحة
سنة …
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
… oğlu …
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Tarih: (yazıt aşınmış – net okunamıyor)
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
… son of …
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
Date: (eroded / not fully legible)
Identity and Dating
Name: Illegible
Father’s name: Illegible
Title: Not specified
Gender: Male
Date: The lower part of the inscription is worn; an exact date cannot be determined
Period: Ottoman period based on style and script (likely 18th–19th century)
Brief Assessment
This gravestone follows the classical layout commonly found on Ottoman male tombstones. The prayer formula beginning with “Hüve’l-Bâkî” is consistent with late Ottoman cemeteries in Western Anatolia. Although the name and date cannot be clearly read due to surface wear, the headpiece form, calligraphic style, and stone workmanship confidently indicate an Ottoman-period origin.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 2
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headed stele)
Condition: Largely legible, with minor surface wear present
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
علي بن عبد الله
طالبا من روح
الفاتحة
سنة ١٢٣٧
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Ali,
Abdullah oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1237 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Ali,
son of Abdullah.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1237 (Hijri).
Identification and Dating
Name: Ali
Father’s name: Abdullah
Title: Not specified
Gender: Male
Date: Hijri 1237
Gregorian equivalent: 1821–1822
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is one of the clearest inscriptions identified in the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery. The layout of the text, line spacing, and the use of a classical funerary prayer formula correspond closely with early 19th-century Ottoman gravestones from Western Anatolia. The form of the headpiece and the quality of the stone carving suggest that the deceased was a settled and respected male member of the village community. The explicit recording of the father’s name is particularly valuable for future genealogical and family-link research.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 3
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headed stele)
Condition: The inscription is largely legible, with slight wear on the lower lines
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
عثمان آغا
بن عبد القادر
طالباً من روح
الفاتحة
سنة ١٢٤٤
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Osman Ağa,
Abdülkadir oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1244 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Osman Agha,
son of Abdülkadir.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1244 (Hijri).
Identity and Dating
Name: Osman
Title: Ağa
Father’s name: Abdülkadir
Gender: Male
Date: H. 1244
Gregorian equivalent: 1828–1829
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is a distinctive example within the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery due to the presence of a formal title. The title “Ağa” indicates that Osman Ağa held a respected social, administrative, or economic position within the village or its surrounding area. The inscription layout, prayer formula, and date line are fully consistent with Western Anatolian Ottoman gravestones from the first half of the 19th century. The clear inclusion of the father’s name is particularly valuable for tracing local family connections.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 4
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headed stele)
Condition: The inscription is largely legible; the headpiece is intact
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
محمد أفندي
بن حسن
روحه için
الفاتحة
سنة ١٢٣٦
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Mehmed Efendi,
Hasan oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1236 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Mehmed Efendi,
son of Hasan.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1236 (Hijri).
Identification and Dating
Name: Mehmed
Title: Efendi
Father’s name: Hasan
Gender: Male
Date: Hijri 1236
Gregorian equivalent: 1820–1821
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is a typical example of those belonging to educated or administratively connected individuals in the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery. The title “Efendi” suggests that Mehmed Efendi was literate and likely associated with a religious or administrative role within the community. The style of the calligraphy, line arrangement, and funerary prayer formula correspond with Ottoman gravestones from the first quarter of the 19th century in Western Anatolia. The clear inclusion of the father’s name allows for future tracing of family connections.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 5
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: The inscription is largely legible, with clear lines
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
علي بن عمر
روحuna فاتحة
سنة ١٢٥١
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Ali,
Ömer oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1251 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Ali,
son of Ömer.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1251 (Hijri).
Identification and Dating
Name: Ali
Title: None (plain entry)
Father’s name: Ömer
Gender: Male
Date: Hijri 1251
Gregorian equivalent: 1835–1836
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is notable for its plain but orderly and carefully executed calligraphy, despite the absence of any honorific title. The simple phrasing “Ali son of Ömer” represents an individual who was an ordinary yet established member of the local community in Yahyaçavuş Village. The date line and funerary prayer formula are consistent with Ottoman gravestone traditions widely used in Western Anatolia during the second quarter of the 19th century. The headpiece type and line proportions show clear stylistic unity with other male headstones in the same cemetery.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 6
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: The inscription is clear and largely legible
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
صالح بن محمد
روحuna فاتحة
سنة ١٢٤٣
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Salih,
Mehmed oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1243 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Salih,
son of Mehmed.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1243 (Hijri).
Identification and Dating
Name: Salih
Title: None (plain entry)
Father’s name: Mehmed
Gender: Male
Date: Hijri 1243
Gregorian equivalent: 1827–1828
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is fully consistent with classical Ottoman male headstones dating to the first half of the 19th century. The calligraphy is orderly and well balanced, with the prayer formula, name, and father’s name clearly distinguished. The wording “Salih son of Mehmed” points to the continuity of settled family structures within Yahyaçavuş Village. The headpiece type and body proportions display strong stylistic unity with other male gravestones in the same cemetery.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 7
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone body with headpiece originally present)
Condition: The stone body is lying flat on the ground; the inscription is largely legible
Osmanlıca Metin
هُوَ ٱلْبَاقِي
المرحوم والمغفور
حسن بن أحمد
روحuna فاتحة
سنة ١٢٣٨
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur
Hasan,
Ahmed oğlu.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Sene 1238 (Hicrî).
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven
Hasan,
son of Ahmed.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year 1238 (Hijri).
Identification and Dating
Name: Hasan
Title: None (plain entry)
Father’s name: Ahmed
Gender: Male
Date: Hijri 1238
Gregorian equivalent: 1822–1823
Period: Late Ottoman period
Brief Assessment
Although the headpiece of this gravestone body has not survived to the present day, the inscription layout and line structure allow it to be read with confidence. The record “Hasan son of Ahmed” points to a settled Ottoman male population living in Yahyaçavuş Village during the first quarter of the 19th century. The funerary prayer formula, date line, and calligraphic style show complete stylistic unity with other Ottoman male gravestones identified in the same cemetery. The fact that the stone has fallen also indicates that the cemetery has been subject to both natural processes and human activity over time.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 8
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: The inscription is heavily worn and only partially legible
Osmanlıca Metin (okunabildiği kadarıyla)
…
هو الباقي
…
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
…
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
…
English Translation
…
He is the Everlasting.
…
Kimlik ve Tarihleme
- İsim: Okunamıyor
- Unvan: Okunamıyor
- Baba adı: Okunamıyor
- Cinsiyet: Erkek (başlık formuna göre)
- Tarih: Okunamıyor
- Dönem: Osmanlı dönemi (tahminen 18.–19. yüzyıl)
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is a typical example of an Ottoman male gravestone, based on its headpiece form and body proportions. The inscription surface is heavily worn, and only the upper line containing the phrase “Hüve’l-Bâkî” (“He is the Everlasting”) remains legible. The name, lineage information, and date lines are no longer readable. Despite this, the stone has been deliberately retained in the catalogue to illustrate the chronological and typological continuity of the cemetery. Its stylistic features are consistent with other late Ottoman-period gravestones in Yahyaçavuş Village.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 9
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: The inscription is largely legible
Osmanlıca Metin
هو الباقي
المرحوم والمغفور
الحاج
مصطفى
بن
علي
روحه الفاتحة
سنة
١٢٢٩
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur,
Hacı Mustafa,
Ali oğludur.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Hicrî 1229 yılı.
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven,
Hacı Mustafa,
son of
Ali.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year
1229 (Hijri).
Kimlik ve Tarihleme
- İsim: Hacı Mustafa
- Baba adı: Ali
- Unvan: Hacı
- Cinsiyet: Erkek
- Tarih: H. 1229 / M. 1813–1814
- Dönem: Geç Osmanlı
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is a typical Ottoman male gravestone dating to the early 19th century, based on its headpiece form, line arrangement, and calligraphic style. The title “Hacı” indicates that the deceased had completed the pilgrimage to Mecca and held a respected status within the village community. The inscription is well preserved, with the text almost entirely legible. The recorded date fits into a chronologically coherent sequence with other late Ottoman-period gravestones in the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 10
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece, diagonal line layout)
Condition: The inscription is largely legible
Osmanlıca Metin
هو الباقي
المرحوم والمغفور
الحاج
محمد
بن
مصطفى
روحه الفاتحة
سنة
١٢٣٦
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur,
Hacı Mehmed,
Mustafa oğludur.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Hicrî 1236 yılı.
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven,
Hacı Mehmed,
son of
Mustafa.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year
1236 (Hijri).
Kimlik ve Tarihleme
- İsim: Hacı Mehmed
- Baba adı: Mustafa
- Unvan: Hacı
- Cinsiyet: Erkek
- Tarih: H. 1236 / M. 1820–1821
- Dönem: Geç Osmanlı
Brief Assessment
This gravestone is one of the more carefully executed examples in the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery, distinguished by the diagonal (crosswise) line arrangement used on the body surface. The title “Hacı” indicates that the deceased had completed the pilgrimage to Mecca and held a respected position within the village community. The calligraphic style and the recorded date allow the stone to be confidently placed in the first quarter of the 19th century. The overall state of preservation is good, and the inscription is largely intact and legible.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Gravestone 11
Location: Yahyaçavuş Village Cemetery, Ezine
Type: Ottoman male gravestone (headstone with headpiece)
Condition: The inscription is partially worn but remains legible
Osmanlıca Metin
هو الباقي
المرحوم والمغفور
الحاج
علي
بن
حسين
روحه الفاتحة
سنة
١٢٢٩
Modern Türkçe Çeviri
O Bâkîdir (Ebedî olan Allah’tır).
Merhum ve mağfur,
Hacı Ali,
Hüseyin oğludur.
Ruhu için
Fâtiha.
Hicrî 1229 yılı.
English Translation
He is the Everlasting.
The late and forgiven,
Hacı Ali,
son of
Hüseyin.
For his soul,
the Fātiha.
In the year
1229 (Hijri).
Kimlik ve Tarihleme
- İsim: Hacı Ali
- Baba adı: Hüseyin
- Unvan: Hacı
- Cinsiyet: Erkek
- Tarih: H. 1229 / M. 1814–1815
- Dönem: Geç Osmanlı
Brief Assessment
This gravestone features a turban-shaped headpiece and a simple body arrangement, reflecting the classical Ottoman male gravestone tradition. The title “Hacı” indicates that the deceased had completed the pilgrimage to Mecca and held a respected status within the village community. Although parts of the inscription have been worn away, the main elements of the text remain preserved. Based on its date, the stone is among the earlier examples dating to the early 19th century in the Yahyaçavuş Village cemetery.
Yahyaçavuş Village – Recorded Graves (Revised Summary Table)
| Mezar No | Cinsiyet / Tip | İsim | Baba Adı | Unvan / Statü | Tarih (Hicrî) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osmanlı Erkek | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Osmanlı Erkek | Ali | Abdullah | — | 1237 |
| 3 | Osmanlı Erkek | Osman | Abdülkadir | Ağa | 1244 |
| 4 | Osmanlı Erkek | Mehmed | Hasan | Efendi | 1236 |
| 5 | Osmanlı Erkek | Ali | Ömer | — | 1251 |
| 6 | Osmanlı Erkek | Salih | Mehmed | — | 1243 |
| 7 | Osmanlı Erkek | Hasan | Ahmed | — | 1238 |
| 8 | Osmanlı Erkek | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Osmanlı Erkek | Mustafa | Ali | Hacı | 1229 |
| 10 | Osmanlı Erkek | Mehmed | Mustafa | Hacı | 1236 |
| 11 | Osmanlı Erkek | Ali | Hüseyin | Hacı | 1229 |
Yahyaçavuş Köyü Mezar Taşları – Table-Based Summary
The eleven Ottoman gravestones recorded in the cemetery of Yahyaçavuş Village point to several settled and continuous family groups living in the village between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century.
All of the graves listed in the table belong to male individuals, and in most cases:
- the father’s name is explicitly recorded,
- honorific titles such as Hacı, Ağa, and Efendi are used for some individuals.
This clearly demonstrates the presence of a strong social hierarchy and family-based structure within the village.
Prominent Family Names and Relationships
1️⃣ Concentration around the name Ali
The name Ali appears repeatedly in the table, both as a grave owner and as a father’s name:
- Grave 2: Ali, son of Abdullah
- Grave 5: Ali, son of Ömer
- Grave 11: Ali, son of Hüseyin
- Grave 9: Mustafa, son of Ali
These repetitions suggest that:
- the name “Ali” may have been used across multiple generations,
- Mustafa (son of Ali) in Grave 9 was likely the son of an earlier Ali who lived in the village,
- individuals named Ali with different fathers may indicate cousin or uncle–nephew relationships within the same extended family.
2️⃣ The Mehmed – Mustafa line
This line presents a clear father–son relationship:
- Grave 10: Mehmed, son of Mustafa, Hacı
- Grave 9: Mustafa, son of Ali, Hacı
When read together, these two records strongly indicate a two-generation family chain:
Mustafa (son of Ali) → Mehmed (son of Mustafa)
The fact that both individuals carry the title “Hacı” suggests that this family was:
- religiously active,
- economically capable,
- and held a respected position within the village.
3️⃣ Hasan – Ahmed and Salih – Mehmed lines
Other gravestones reveal parallel family lines within the village:
- Grave 7: Hasan, son of Ahmed
- Grave 6: Salih, son of Mehmed
These individuals:
- belong to the same general time period,
- share similar gravestone styles,
- are recorded without honorific titles, yet in a careful and orderly manner.
They may therefore represent established middle-status families within the village community.
What the Distribution of Titles Reveals
Looking at the distribution of honorific titles in the table:
- Hacı: Graves 9, 10, 11
- Ağa: Grave 3
- Efendi: Grave 4
This pattern suggests that:
- the village did not revolve around a single elite family,
- individuals from different families achieved comparable social standing,
- social prestige was distributed across the village, rather than concentrated in one lineage.
Overall Conclusion (Based on the Table)
The gravestones of Yahyaçavuş Village demonstrate:
- at least two to three generations of family continuity,
- the clear recording of father–son relationships,
- the reflection of religious and social status in funerary monuments,
- a settled, organised, and socially structured rural community during the late Ottoman period.
With future research—such as:
- comparing recurring names with gravestones in neighbouring villages,
- correlating these findings with population registers or tax records—
this dataset has strong potential to be developed into well-defined family trees.
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