Conservation Practices at Foreign-run Archaeological Excavations in Turkey: A critical review

Foreign-run excavations are a significant component of archaeological research in Turkey, however, conservation work carried out at these excavations has never been examined holistically. B. Nilgün Öz investigates archaeological conservation at foreign-run excavations at 19 sites across Turkey to identify the scale and nature of differing contributions, determining changing approaches and issues impacting conservation practices, as well as possible catalysts, influences and driving forces. Through a systematic appraisal of the variety of conservation work between 1979 and 2014, this research contributes to a wider understanding of the dynamics of archaeological heritage management and archaeological conservation as it is practiced in Turkey at foreign-run projects. This thought-provoking and timely book will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of archaeology, architecture, conservation, heritage and history.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements List of Figures List of Tables Preface 1. Introduction 1.1. Aim and scope 1.2. Methodology 1.2.1. Selection of sites 1.2.2. Sources and constraints 1.2.2.1. ERM proceedings and other literary sources 1.2.2.2. Interviews 1.2.2.3. Data collection and storage 1.3. Contents 2. Contextual Background and Regulatory Framework 2.1. Contextual background 2.1.1. The historical setting 2.1.2. Foreign archaeological institutions in Turkey 2.1.3. Research on foreign archaeological presence in Turkey 2.2. Regulatory framework 2.2.1. The Ottoman period 2.2.2. Early Republic period 2.2.3. 1973-1983 2.2.4. 1983-2004 2.2.5. 2004-2009 2.2.6. 2009 to the present 2.3. Requirements concerning foreign-run archaeological projects 2.3.1. Permit applications 2.3.2. Monitoring of archaeological excavations 2.3.3. Obligations 2.3.4 Assessment procedures 2.4. Review 3. Conservation Practices at Selected Foreign-run Archaeological Excavations in Turkey (1979-2014) 3.1. Austria 3.1.1. Ephesos 3.2. Belgium 3.2.1. Sagalassos 3.3. France 3.3.1. Labraunda 3.4. Germany 3.4.1. Doliche 3.4.2. Göbekli Tepe 3.4.3. Hattusha 3.4.4. Pergamon 3.4.5. Priene 3.4.6. Troy 3.5. Italy 3.5.1. Arslantepe 3.5.2. Elaiussa Sebaste 3.5.3. Hierapolis 3.5.4. Kyme 3.5.5. Yumuktepe 3.6. Japan 3.6.1. Kaman-Kalehöyük 3.7. United Kingdom 3.7.1. Çatalhöyük 3.8. USA 3.8.1. Aphrodisias 3.8.2. Gordion 3.8.3. Sardis 4. A Critical Review of Conservation Practices 4.1. Conservation practices 4.1.1. Conservation work 4.1.1.1. Site conservation 4.1.1.2. Site presentation 4.1.1.3. Management planning 4.1.1.4. Conservation principles and standardization 4.1.1.5. Review 4.1.2. People in the conservation practice 4.1.2.1. Professions and remit 4.1.2.2. Standards-setters 4.1.2.3. Mobility and exchange 4.1.2.4. Advisory bodies 4.1.2.5. Review 4.1.3. Forms of community engagement 4.1.3.1. Community education 4.1.3.2. Outreach and development projects 4.1.3.3. Capacity building 4.1.3.4. Confidence building and empowerment 4.1.3.5. Digital engagement 4.1.3.6. Review 4.1.4. Funding of conservation 4.1.4.1. Sources 4.1.4.2. Types of projects and their financial sources 4.1.4.3. Types of funding used by countries 4.1.4.4. Review 4.1.5. Discussion / emerging themes 4.1.5.1. Integration of archaeology and conservation 4.1.5.2. Responsibility for conservation 4.1.5.3. Visibility of conservation 4.1.5.4. Engagement with local communities 4.2. Issues impacting conservation practices 4.2.1. Operational and regulatory issues 4.2.1.1. Consultation 4.2.1.2. Emphasis on extensive architectural interventions 4.2.1.3. Institutional cooperation 4.2.1.4. Duration of excavations 4.2.1.5. Co/assistant-directorships 4.2.1.6. Repatriation efforts 4.2.1.7. One-fits-all approach 4.2.1.8. Expectation of fast results 4.2.1.9. Assessment of excavations 4.2.1.10. Subsidies 4.2.2. Financial issues 4.2.3. Local dimension 4.2.4. Professional resources 4.2.5. Discussion / emerging themes 4.2.5.1. MoCT's approach towards archaeological sites and their conservation 4.2.5.2. Attitudes towards foreign archaeological presence 4.3. Catalysts, influences and driving forces: a discussion 4.3.1. International guidelines and developments in the field of conservation 4.3.2. Operational and regulatory context in Turkey 4.3.3. Financial sources 4.3.4. Differences in national approaches 4.3.5. Key individuals 5. Conclusion 5.1. Ways forward 5.2. Further research References

About the Author :
B. Nilgün Öz is a conservation architect (Middle East Technical University-METU BArch 1998, METU MSc 2002, METU PhD 2018). She has held fellowships at the University of Liverpool and Koç University in Istanbul. She is an expert member of ICOMOS-Turkey.

Review :
'The publication, the information it contains and the discussions it engages in will be of significant value to researchers and practitioners in the field, not only those working in Turkey but also in many other parts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.' Dr Aylin Orbasli, Oxford Brookes University