Kalmalar

Kalmalar is a Turkish term meaning remnants or residues—things that remain after a process. The word is formed from the root kal- “to stay, remain” and the plural suffix -lar. In everyday Turkish, kalmalar can refer to leftovers of meals, fragments of objects, or anything that endures after change.

Across disciplines, kalmalar is used to describe material remains from past cultures. In archaeology and cultural heritage, kalmalar include artefacts, architectural fragments, inscriptions, and environmental traces recovered from sites. In geology and environmental science, the term can denote residual materials left behind after weathering, mining, or industrial activity.

In literary and cultural contexts, kalmalar can be used metaphorically to discuss legacies, survivals, or influences that persist after a historical period or event. The concept thus spans both tangible remains and intangible continuities.

Compared terms include kalıntı (a remnant) and kalıntılar (remnants), as well as kalma (the act of remaining or the state of remaining). The term is primarily used in Turkish-language scholarship and discourse; outside Turkish-speaking contexts, equivalents such as remnants or residues are commonly used.

Notes: When encountered as a proper noun or title, “Kalmalar” may refer to specific names of organizations, works, or places, and should be interpreted from context.