Elaborated Sacks (=Alaçuval) Weaving among the Anatolian Nomads

Abstract

"The nomadic sacks” as a special kind of weaving is used generally by the nomads in their nomadic areas or by nomads who have settled insome villages and towns. People in the cities were not familiar with these kinds of weavings. These sacks are used to store clothes, foods and sleeping necessities. But ‘‘alaçuvals'' (elaborated sacks) are specific for storing precious clothes and jewelries, which is the reason why they are usually very well patterned and colored. In order to be able to fix it up on the animals who carry them, they are usually woven as a couple. From the past and as a part of the nomadic culture, girls would weave at least a couple of them before getting married, as their dowry. Every tribe has its own unique patterns, colors and weaving techniques style. The pattern, color, techniques, materials and looms of the Anatolian sacks are similar to carpets, kilims and other equivalent weaves. However, the particularity of the design composition is remarkable. In regard to the technique, soumaktechnique is used, in Anatolia this technique is named in different names: sırtmaç, oyulgama, olgama, urgama, ilme, kirtin, kaydırma, çelme, çalma, halı kapakh, körtegel, kayak, denleme.