Gumushane Dolek Stew Product Description and Distinctive Features: Pottery-making, a tradition that has been practiced for centuries in the village of Dölek, holds a special place in the local culture. The enthusiasm surrounding the laborious process of making pottery and the income generated from the sale of pottery at the end of summer contribute significantly to folk culture and narratives. In this context, there is a strong connection between Gümüşhane Dölek Pottery and the geographical region. Gümüşhane Dölek Pottery consists of various clay vessels made from a mixture of different types of clay obtained from the village of Dölek. Produced entirely by hand and with unique designs by skilled craftsmen, these vessels include güveç (casserole), gudu (small casserole), hotlu güveç (large casserole), pot, cube, kırıs (small cube), jug, and tandır. Among these clay vessels, güveç and pot are the most commonly used. The most significant connection of Gümüşhane Dölek Pottery with the region lies in the unique method of blending clay obtained from six different points within the village boundaries, located a few kilometers apart. All these areas have different types of clay deposits and none are located in riverbeds. The mixture needs to have the desired consistency for the güveç to be sufficiently robust and durable. Production Method: The production of Gümüşhane Dölek Pottery continues uninterruptedly throughout the year in various stages. After August, the preparation and storage of güveç clay are undertaken, while simultaneously, the production of güveçs to be sold the following summer begins. As the güveçs are air-dried and fired, production takes place in favorable weather conditions at all times. 1. Preparation of Güveç Clay: The clay used for making güveç and other products is called "çamur" (mud). This mud is a mixture of special types of soil taken from six different points within the village area (Şima, Demir Meşe, Şephane, Karpuzların üstü, Ucular, and Eski Yayla). These locations have been determined based on the experience of skilled craftsmen and have been used for this purpose for many years. The clay obtained from these six points can be categorized into two groups: Soft mud and hard mud. Four of the locations provide hard mud, while the other two provide soft mud. Soft mud, extracted from Ucular and Eski Yayla, has a very fine texture, high water content, and a purplish color. Due to its stickiness and high viscosity, it is not suitable for güveç making on its own. On the other hand, the hard mud obtained from the other four locations is light yellow to beige, has large grains, and is dry. It is not sufficiently sticky on its own, making it unsuitable for güveç making. The ratio of hard and soft clay in the mixture is approximately mixed to be 50%, and the large stones in the mixture are first removed. Some water is added to the clay mixture, and it is mixed by treading on it with bare feet. This process is called "mud stomping." The stomping process continues until the clay reaches a certain consistency. The consistency of the clay is adjusted by the experience and skill of the craftsman, ensuring that it is neither too hard to hold together nor too soft (sticky) to form the body of the güveç. Before starting the güveç making process, any small stones that may remain in the clay are manually removed by kneading. This process, known as "elleme" in the region, not only remixes the clay to make it homogeneous but also removes small stones that could affect the quality of the final product. This way, the güveç clay is prepared. 2. Güveç Making: The prepared clay, as described above, is used in the production of various pottery items. The tools used in production are as follows: - Gurufa: The main apparatus on which the güveç is made. It consists of a cylindrical piece of wood with a diameter of approximately 10-15 cm and a height of 5-10 cm. A wooden board of about 30x30 cm dimensions is placed on top of it, and it is manually rotated during the production of items. Traditionally, these boards are made from Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris) wood found within the village boundaries. - Tarak: A wooden piece with a thinned edge used for shaping the güveç by rubbing on the clay. - Gıranzi: A folded cloth piece about 5 cm wide and 30-40 cm long used to smooth the surface and polish the güveç during the shaping process. It is wetted and applied to achieve a smooth surface. The mouth of the güveç is smoothed by pulling the gıranzi. - Gogoç Stone: After güveçs are allowed to dry for 1-2 days, this stone, obtained from the roundings of two streams in the Dölek village, is used to flatten the surfaces, eliminate roughness, and correct any errors that may have occurred during the production stage. It is roughly the size and shape of an egg and is made of quartz or mica. - Namlu: A metal tool about 2-3 cm wide and 15-20 cm long used to scrape off excess clay from the flat base edges of güveçs, which are placed on boards for drying. - Eğiş: A 2-3 m long iron rod with one or two ends curved like a hook, used during the firing of güveçs to hold or remove them from the fire by gripping their handles or mouths. a. Güveç Making: The prepared güveç clay is shaped according to the size of the güveç to be made. The clay is shaped into a round coil and placed on a wooden base with inward-sloping edges. The clay is then shaped into a güveç by stacking it on top of each other from the inside with the help of one hand holding it from the inside and the other hand forming columns of clay on the outside. If a larger güveç is to be made, it is first shaped up to a height of 15-20 cm, left to dry for a few hours, and then the base part, which has hardened, gains the durability to carry the subsequently made body part. Such larger güveçs are called "hotlu güveç." Güveç, gudu (small güveç), cube, kırıs (small cube), jug, ashtray, and other products are all made using a similar technique. The tandır, on the other hand, is made in the same technique but in a shaded and spacious area where it does not receive direct sunlight. The term güveç making encompasses the production of all these items under this umbrella concept.