Fasil Balti

In 1960s Istanbul, Turkey, bars and taverns hired workers called küfeci (basket men) to carry patrons home in large wicker baskets known as küfe when they were too drunk to walk.... In old Istanbul, some bars employed workers known as “küfeci,” or basket men, whose job was simple: carry home patrons who had drunk too much to walk. Using large woven baskets strapped to their backs, these porters would transport inebriated customers safely through the city’s steep streets. Most küfeci already worked as porters during the day, hauling goods through markets and docks, then earned extra money at night helping tavern-goers get home. The practice became so common that Turkish developed its own phrase for it: “küfelik olmak,” meaning to be so drunk you need to be carried home in a basket. Istanbul has long been known for service-oriented jobs like this. Even today, many grocery stores and markets employ staff whose role is to bag purchases and carry them to a customer’s car. Istanbul still has thousands of licensed street porters known as hamals, who carry heavy loads through crowded markets like the Grand Bazaar, sometimes hauling over 200 pounds on their backs. #archaeohistories