Migration Memory Bank: Digital Archiving, Spatial Storytelling, and AI-Assisted Analysis of Migration to Anatolia

Author : Dr. Katya Vladimirov

Abstract : Introduction: Migration has been one of the most significant forces shaping Anatolia’s historical development. Situated at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Anatolia has historically functioned as both a transit corridor and a destination for diverse populations. Over the past two centuries in particular, large-scale migrations have transformed demographic structures, cultural identities, linguistic landscapes, and political dynamics across the region. The proposed project, Migration Memory Bank, seeks to document and interpret these migration processes through an integrated digital humanities framework that combines archival preservation, spatial visualization, and artificial intelligence–assisted analysis. The project will establish a comprehensive digital repository of migration-related materials while developing interactive geographic narratives that render complex historical processes accessible to both scholarly and public audiences. Despite substantial scholarship on individual migration episodes—such as movements from the Caucasus, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East—historical materials remain dispersed across archives, languages, and disciplinary traditions. A systematic digital infrastructure capable of integrating these sources is still lacking. This project addresses that gap while advancing interdisciplinary migration research, digital scholarship, and public engagement

Keywords : Migration, Anatolia, digital humanities, archives, GIS, AI analysis

Conference Name : International Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities (ICISH-26)

Conference Place : Ankara, Turkey

Conference Date : 18th Apr 2026