Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
GEOHERITAGE, cilt.17, sa.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus exhibit a wide geological diversity, ranging from the Palaeozoic to the Quaternary. Over the past 30 years, many geological heritage sites in Istanbul have either disappeared or been severely damaged due to urbanization. Despite this destruction, silicified trees have been preserved in Late Oligocene-Early Miocene-aged rocks. One of these well-preserved silicified tree specimens was discovered in Beylikd & uuml;z & uuml;. This fossil has been identified as an ancestor of the genus Mammea L. (Mammeoxylon Y. Lemoigne).Another form of geological heritage preservation, which is the focus of this article, is traditional belief systems. The reason this Petrified tree has remained intact for centuries is rooted in local traditions. For hundreds of years, it has been used as a "wishing stone." Ottoman archival records indicate that people engaged in various rituals around this Petrified tree, including making wishes by tossing coins, tying cloths, lighting candles, and even passing children through a hole in the tree. Moreover, this Petrified tree holds the distinction of being the first geological heritage site to be officially protected by a municipality in T & uuml;rkiye. This article aims to explore how a geological heritage site has transformed into a cultural landmark due to the symbolic meanings attributed to it by society, how these cultural associations have contributed to its preservation, and how it has evolved into an educational resource for geosciences.Key Words: Geological heritage, Geosite, Petrified tree, Geoconservation, Geoeducation