Mahfuz Aktaş, Havva Merve Tuncer, Zeynep Aktaş
As defensive functions fade, fortified settlements evolve from military strongholds into complex cultural heritage sites. This study offers a comparative evaluation of Alanya and Harput, both on the UNESCO Tentative List, through the analytical lens of the ICOFORT Charter. Based on a comprehensive analysis spanning the eight ICOFORT value categories, the research reveals that these settlements represent distinct defence paradigms shaped by their geomorphological contexts. Alanya embodies an outward-looking coastal-port model, characterized by constructive engineering (stone-brick hybridity) and a maritime grand strategy. Conversely, Harput represents an inward-looking inland-mountain model, defined by a strategic synthesis of rock-cut infrastructure and local masonry integrated with the topography. The study further highlights their divergent management orientations: while Alanya navigates the pressures of an established mass tourism-driven economy, Harput pursues a tourism-led revitalization strategy focused on cultural and faith tourism supported by archaeological presentation. These findings demonstrate that monolithic conservation approaches are insufficient for such diverse typologies. Consequently, the study advocates for customized management strategies rooted in the specific genius loci of each site, thereby providing a scientific framework to strengthen their outstanding universal value claims.