Inscription on the list of Urgent Safeguarding List
Traditional Ahlat stonework refers to the knowledge, methods and skills surrounding the extraction, carving and use of volcanic Ahlat stones. In addition to architectural works such as houses and mosques, the stones are also used in tombstones, fountains and other artefacts. The viability of the practice is threatened by several factors, including demographic changes (difficulty finding apprentices due to the sharp decline in population and urban migration) and the widespread use of modern building techniques and materials in the region.