Global Courant
ANKARA
The number of archaeological excavations and studies in Turkey is expected to reach 750 by the end of 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Saturday.
In the statement, it was stated that a new excavation will begin in the coming days for prehistoric and ancient remains from the Neolithic Age to the Iron Age in the Gökhöyük region of Konya.
In long-term excavations, information about the last inhabitants of a settlement in the region will be sought first.
Excavations in the ancient city of Sobesos in Nevşehir’s Ürgüp district, which have been suspended for a while, will continue this year as well.
Restoration-oriented works will continue in areas such as Laodicea and Tripolis in Denizli; Olympos, Patara, Perge and Side in Antalya; Stratonikeia, Euromos, Knidos and Beçin Castle in Muğla province and Silifke Castle and Uzuncaburç in Mersin.
The Neolithic Age Research Project, which was initiated within the scope of the Taştepeler Project in Şanlıurfa and carried out in 12 areas, will continue with the participation of scientists from various countries.
In addition to the excavations in ancient cities, restoration works will be carried out simultaneously to revitalize the cities.
By the end of the year, the number of archaeological excavations and research carried out by scientific teams and museum directorates will reach 750.
– A budget of 200 million lira has been allocated for excavation.
Almost all of the 240 scientific excavations planned for 2023 under the leadership of Turkish and foreign scientists and museum directorates started this month.
Approximately 200 million Turkish Liras (US$ 7.6 million) has been allocated by the ministry to be used in archaeological excavations. Financing support will exceed TL 500 million ($ 19.1 million) by the end of the year.
This year, 144 archaeological excavations and restoration works will be carried out for 12 months. In addition, nearly 140 archaeological surveys will be conducted by local and foreign scientists.
Foreign scientists will lead 39 archaeological excavations and surveys across the country with the participation of Turkish scientists.
Within the scope of scientific cooperation, more than 250 foreign scientists from more than 20 countries will participate in excavation and surface research this year.
Within the scope of the newly launched Anatolian Rock Monuments and Inscriptions Project, rock monuments and inscriptions will be cataloged and recorded with 3D scanning.
Cataloging, 3D scanning and documentation of cemeteries, tombstones, inscriptions and inscriptions belonging to the Turkish-Islamic period in Turkey will continue.
*Written by Alperen Aktaş in Istanbul.
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