The Anatolian Turkish architecture of the Middle Ages includes a group of decorative ornaments in the form of human and animal scalps or figures attached to vegetal motifs. Some scholars account for these decorative ornaments through a reference to 'Shamanism', the ancient Turkish religion, to the twelve animal calendar, to animals of the astrological signs, or to animal figures in Turkish mythology. In fact, these ornaments, which became widespread in Anatolian Turkish Art from mid-thirteenth century onwards, are not related to Shamanism, astrological signs, or calendar animals. They are actually examples of a stylization of the so-called Waq Waq tree, which was believed to grow on the imaginary Waq waq Island believed to be located in the Indian Ocean. Waq waq is a legendary tree that yields fruit in human and animal shapes, has branches whose tips look like human and animal forms, and makes a sound similar to 'waq waq'. It can be argued that this type of ornamentation, which evolved out of the so-called Waq waq tree and which was employed extensively not only in architecture but also in books, ceramics, metal works, glass works, woodworks, fabrics, and carpets, was a specific decorative style. This argument is supported by a 16th century source as well. In short, this ornament needs to be considered and evaluated not in relation to Shamanism, astrological signs, or calendar animals, but as a specific style of decoration.