SANTORINI SOIL (BOÇLANA) & PUMICE STONE AND THEIR USE

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Avrasya Sosyal ve Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi
Cilt: 12 Sayı: 4
SANTORINI SOIL (BOÇLANA) & PUMICE STONE AND THEIR USE

SANTORINI SOIL (BOÇLANA) & PUMICE STONE AND THEIR USE

Authors : Arzu Baykara Taşkaya

Pages : 472-506

View : 29 | Download : 283

Publication Date : 2025-11-05

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Pumice stone is a porous volcanic rock naturally formed through volcanic activities. During the Ottoman era, this material was known as Santorin soil & sand (Boçlana, pumice, or sponge stone). The Ottoman Empire utilized Santorin soil innovatively in civil engineering, particularly in port construction and the dry docks of naval shipyards. Historical records show that Santorin soil was imported three times (1796, 1827, and 1885) twice from Italy and once from Greece—to be used specifically at the dry docks of the Ottoman Imperial Shipyard (Tersane-yi Amire). Currently, archival evidence regarding the specific extraction sites of this material is largely missing. Today, pumice stone, once prominently used in Ottoman construction projects, has become industrialized and widely employed across multiple sectors. This article also explores how human life has adapted within the natural environment where Santorin soil originated. On Santorini Island, the original site of pumice discovery, residents historically carved homes directly into pumice formations. The islanders continue to cultivate vineyards for winemaking, leveraging the region’s unique geography to create cellars. Furthermore, the article addresses whether pumice stone has been adequately utilized in Turkey given advancements in technology. The primary sources of this study include documents from the Presidency of State Archives, Ottoman Archive Division, along with relevant research publications. The article aims to comprehensively illustrate the discovery, usage, trade, taxation, transportation, and all archival aspects concerning Santorin soil during the Ottoman period. Additionally, it examines the evolution and adaptation of this resource from the Ottoman Empire into the Republican era of Türkiye.
Keywords : SANTORİN tOPRAĞI, Osmanlı Devleti, Ekonomi

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