From Rubble to Roots: Mapping Genealogical Data and Cultural Heritage in Post-Earthquake Antioch

This presentation addresses the urgent task of tracing genealogical roots and documenting cultural heritage in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake that devastated Antioch. Drawing on my PhD research into the migration history of Ottoman Arab Christian families from Antioch to São Paulo during the 19th and 20th centuries, and informed by archival and ethnographic research conducted in Antakya from May to September 2024, I will highlight the significance of heritage preservation amidst destruction.

Using examples from my fieldwork—such as analyzing official records, collecting family photographs, and conducting oral histories with displaced Antiochian families—I will demonstrate how combining genealogical databases like FamilySearch with qualitative methodologies provides a integrated framework for preserving Antiochian cultural heritage. These integrated methods safeguard the cultural and familial legacies of affected communities while ensuring accessibility for future generations.