Temsilcisine

Temsilcisine is a small village located in the Çayırlı district of Erzincan Province in Eastern Turkey. The settlement sits at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level and is surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills that are characteristic of the Pontic region. According to the most recent census data from 2021, the population of Temsilcisine is 147 residents, a decline from the mid‑20th century when the village had a population of over 300 inhabitants. The demographic structure is dominated by an aging population, with a notable proportion of the inhabitants emigrating to larger cities for employment.

Historically, Temsilcisine was established in the late 19th century during the late Ottoman period as a small agricultural community. The village’s name derives from the Turkish word “temsilci,” meaning "representative," reflecting the village’s early role as a local outpost for tax collection and administration in the region. During the early Republican era, the village benefited from land reforms and small-scale irrigation projects, which allowed it to diversify its agriculture to include hazelnuts, apples, and orchard fruit.

The local economy remains predominantly agricultural, with residents engaged in subsistence farming and livestock rearing. Harvests of hazelnuts and apples in the autumn season support a modest local market, while some families participate in seasonal labor migration to larger towns. A small primary school serves the village's children, and religious life revolves around a single mosque that doubles as a community gathering place. The village’s geographic isolation has helped preserve its traditional folk music and local dialect, which scholars sometimes study as examples of regional Anatolian culture.