FROM TRIBE TO TOWN: THE EARLY HISTORY OF KAMAN

Abstract

Kaman, a district center in the province of Kırşehir in Central Anatolia today,
is located about 25 km. northwest of Kırşehir on the ancient route from Kırşehir to
Ankara. As far as it is known, the history of Kaman has not been a direct research
subject for any scholars until now. However, in some studies that have indirectly
touched on the subject, researchers express that its history goes back to the ancient
period studies, especially by comparing the name of Kaman with some ancient
names. In this connection, it has been suggested that the word of Kaman originally
comes from the name of Kamana, which derives from the name of Komana, the
“holy mother” country in the Luwi language1
. It is also said that the name of
Kaman is probably given because of the name Chamanene in the Roman period2
.
In contrast to these ideas, it is possible to give some new information and
some new aspects about the name and emergence of Kaman, especially by using
historical sources and materials. In this connection, the name of Kaman is found
not only in Anatolia, but also in Central Asia. First of all, this name appears as the
name of a legendary hero known by the names “Kaman”, “Köz Kaman”3
and “Kal
Kaman” in the epics of Manas and Semetey of the Kyrgyzs. “Kaman” or “Kaban”
in Turkish dialects firstly means “wild male boar”, and secondly “hero” and “brave
man”4
even today in Central Asia. It is considered that the name Kaman could be
given as personal names in these meanings.