INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Founded on 16.02.2015, the Institute of Archaeology, established within Pamukkale University, is Turkiye''s first and only Institute serving in this field.
1. Vision and Mission
The Vision of the Institute of Archaeology: Adhering to the scientific, ethical, professional and intellectual standards of our university, it is to aim for a structure that acquires, researches, protects, reveals, reveals, revives the archaeological values of our region and our country, strengthens and supports the studies and cooperation between scientists conducting archaeological research in our country and other countries; in this context, it aims to produce information of universal value, constantly renewing and developing its scientific activities.
The mission of the Institute of Archaeology is to train expert archaeologists and restorers who are equipped in their fields to carry out and implement qualified scientific studies both in universities and in areas outside the university, to support and develop activities that can produce information at national and international level; within the framework of the educational activities carried out in this context, to equip graduate students with the knowledge and skills they will need locally and universally; to ensure the support and development of society by using scientific and contemporary knowledge creatively and sharing it in all areas; to carry out excavation, restoration, scientific research, application, publication, seminar, education and training services in line with this purpose, to represent our region and our country at the international level in the field of archaeology and the protection and restoration of cultural heritage.
2. Training activities
To serve the purpose of its establishment, our Institute carries out an education programme aiming to train expert archaeologists, restorers and conservators. Within the Institute, Archaeology, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets and Textile Archaeology master's programmes and PhD Programme in Archaeology are carried out. As of 2023, a total of 74 students are enrolled in the Institute of Archaeology; Archaeology Master's Programme: 32, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets Master's Programme: 21 and Archaeology PhD Programme: 21: 21, a total of 74 students are enrolled.
In these graduate programmes, the faculty members of the Departments of Archaeology and Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, as well as faculty members from different departments with different areas of expertise, contribute by giving lectures due to the interdisciplinary structure of the Master's programme of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets.
The four archaeological excavations (Laodikeia, Stratonikeia and Lagina, Tripolis, Syllion) carried out within the Department of Archaeology are very important for students to conduct field research, to carry out applied courses, to acquire and reinforce technical and professional skills. These excavations offer the opportunity to gain more experience in archaeological excavation and documentation techniques and conservation and repair practices in the field and laboratory environment.
In addition, the graduate students of our Institute take an active role in evaluating the findings obtained during the excavations. Most of the thesis studies carried out and completed within the Institute are based on the data obtained from the excavations.
At the end of each semester, seminars prepared by our students and presented on pre-announced dates aim to provide an environment for exchanging scientific knowledge and discussion between departments and experts and raising awareness on how to obtain and develop scientific knowledge. In addition, scientists specialised in their fields are invited to the Institute to give conferences and international congresses are held at certain times.
In the thesis stage of graduate programmes, the thesis projects to be carried out by the students and their advisors are supported by our university's Scientific Research Project Directorate, thus providing a financial contribution to the study.
Archaeology Master's Programme (with thesis) The four archaeological excavations (Laodikeia, Stratonikeia and Lagina, Tripolis, Syllion) carried out within the Department of Archaeology are essential for students to conduct field research, to carry out applied courses, to acquire and reinforce technical and professional skills. Students enrolled in this programme can participate in the archaeological excavations by the Department of Archaeology and carry out fieldwork and applied courses in excavation areas. Graduates of the programme can work as archaeologists in museums, conservation boards, KUDEBs, various state institutions and local administrations, and those who aim to pursue an academic career can continue their PhD programme.
Textile Archaeology Master Programme (with thesis): The Department of Textile Archaeology focuses on textile history and archaeology. In this context, it encourages supports the expansion and consolidation of ancient textile researches carried out by its students and sheds light, questions and inspires new productions in line with the requirements of the modern age. The Interdisciplinary Department of Textile Archaeology aims to produce integrated results by combining all kinds of scientific research and results related to textiles, which usually isolated within different departments and academic fields, into a bigger picture. It aims to train specialists in the field of ancient textiles who have the ability to conduct scientific investigation and research on ancient textiles, to develop and determine methods, to practice and evaluate the results of practice, to have advanced technical knowledge and skills, to follow and interpret textile-related activities in our country and in the world from theoretical and technical perspectives, and to contribute to the needs of the country. To create a national and international profile of current and future textile research, to conduct scientific programmes in new research areas, to inspire scientists to include the field of ancient textiles in their research, to obtain new results and to increase their visibility and to increase their number are among the primary goals.
Master's Programme in Conservation and Repair of Cultural Assets (with thesis): In our country, it is critical to preserve the archaeological materials (prehistoric, geometric, archaic, classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine), Seljuk, Ottoman Periods and rich cultural assets that have survived to the present day through excavations, or to repair them by the original when necessary and to transfer them to future generations. This process requires many disciplines to work together. For this reason, there is a curriculum consisting of theoretical and applied courses from different fields, such as Archaeology, Art History, Chemistry, Architecture, etc., in the Master's programme. Both theoretical courses and on-site excursions, observations, examinations and research on Denizli's rich cultural heritage provide students with an essential field of application. This programme aims to train expert restorers and conservators in the field.
PhD Programme in Archaeology: The main objective of this programme, which focuses on the archaeology of Anatolia in particular, is to train specialised scientists in every field of archaeology starting from the Prehistoric Ages. The courses in the PhD programme curriculum cover a wide range of archaeological periods and topics. Thus, the student can choose and receive education in line with the field he/she wants to specialise in and is interested in. Thesis projects carried out by doctoral candidates are significant, especially in transforming the findings obtained in archaeological excavations into scientific knowledge and introducing them to the scientific world through permanent publications.
3. Scientific Activities
The excavations within the Department of Archaeology are an organic part of our Institute. The excavations carried out at the ruins of Laodikeia, Stratonikeia, Lagina, Tripolis, and Syllion undertake an essential mission in the excavation and conservation of the cultural assets of our country. Thanks to the experience gained in these excavations, the teaching staff of our Institute has the professional experience to carry out large-scale national and international excavation and conservation projects. It has acquired the competence to train experts in this direction. Excavations and related conservation-repair activities are transformed into permanent scientific results with international books, articles in scientific journals, papers and postgraduate theses. Academics working with our Institute are at an essential point in their fields regarding scientific publications and activities.
The Institute of Archaeology also organises events such as symposiums, panels and conferences throughout the year, bringing together scientists from various countries and fields of expertise and creating a scientific sharing environment.
Laodikeia Excavations: The ancient city of Laodikeia, located in Denizli province centre, has been excavated by a team headed by Prof. Dr. Celal Şimşek since 2003. The ancient city, which contains vibrant archaeological remains belonging to different periods from the Prehistoric period to Late Antiquity, is included in UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Tentative List, was the most crucial metropolis of the region during the Roman Period and became a vital religious centre with the adoption of Christianity. The excavations in the city provide the participating students and team members with the opportunity to learn and apply excavation and documentation methods using the latest technology and apply conservation-repair practices on both immovable and movable cultural assets with advanced restoration laboratories.
Stratonikeia and Lagina Excavations: The ancient city of Stratonikeia, located in the Yatağan district of Muğla province, has been excavated by a team headed by Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt since 2008. Lagina, the sacred area of the city, was added to this excavation. According to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage, the city started to be inhabited in prehistoric times. From the Hellenistic Period to the Early Byzantine Period, the city became very important, but the texture of the settlements belonging to the Ottoman and Early Republican Periods has been preserved quite well. Due to this structure, it is a significant study area for archaeological research and conservation-repair applications.
Tripolis Excavations: Tripolis is located on the north-east of the fertile Çürüksu Plain on the banks of the Büyük Menderes River, within the borders of the Yenicekent Neighbourhood in the Buldan District of the present-day Denizli Province. Although the history of Tripolis as a city dates back to the Hellenistic Period, the archaeological material obtained during the surveys conducted at Hamambükü and Yenice Höyük in the east and southeast of the city proves that the settlement traces in the area where the city is located date back to the Late Neolithic-Early Chalcolithic Period (5500 BC). In Tripolis, where the last traces of settlement belong to the 13th century AD, the remains of the ancient period spread over an area of approximately 281 hectares. The excavation works, which started in 2012 with the cooperation between Denizli Museum and our university, are now carried out by a team headed by Prof. Dr. Bahadır Duman.
Sillyon Excavations: Sillyon is located in the Pamphylia Region in the ancient period and today in the Kocagözler Mevkii of the Yanköy Neighbourhood in the Serik district of Antalya province. Located 8 km. north of the Antalya-Alanya motorway, the city can be seen quite easily from the mentioned road. The city was founded on a 235 m—high rm—high overlooking the Antalya Plain, which borders the Taurus Mountains border. The city, which has been inhabited since the early periods, harbours ruins from every period. Unlike the critical cities of the Pamphylia Region, such as Perge, Aspendos, Side and Attaleia, the city, founded on a rocky hill, was inhabited continuously from the Geometric Period until the Turkish-Islamic Period. Towards the end of the Ottoman Period, the settlement shifted to the city's western outskirts; even examples of civil architecture were built in the early Roman stadium.
The Sillyon Excavation is carried out under the scientific coordination of Dr Murat Taşkıran from Pamukkale University and the Antalya Museum with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums. Since 2021, the Sillyon excavations, which will be supported within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and the Presidency of the Turkish Historical Society (TTK), have been increased to the status of excavations lasting 12 months.
4. Academic and Administrative Staff
As of the 2020-2021 academic year, three administrative staff are working within the Institute of Archaeology. The academic staff carrying out the management activities of our Institute consists of faculty members/staff of the Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Conservation and Repair Departments of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
5. Physical Conditions and Infrastructure
The Institute of Archaeology is housed in the Advanced Technology Research Laboratory Building, with a central library and access to digital databases and computers available for student use, serving the students and staff of the Institute and playing an important role in educational activities and scientific studies.