Publics, Archaeologies and Ways of Seeing: From Whom Are We Protecting the Archaeological Assets? (20 min)

Presenters

Işılay Gürsu, British Institute at Ankara

Abstract

This talk will present the synthesized results of a long-term research initiative by the British Institute at Ankara (BIAA) that aimed at understanding the multilayered relationship between archaeology and society in Turkey, a country with a rich heritage but with many challenges regarding its safeguarding. BIAA’s work culminated in several projects such as the “Living Amid the Ruins: Archaeological Sites As Hubs of Sustainable Development for Local Communities in Southwest Turkey,” the “Pisidia Heritage Trail,” and the Europa Nostra award-winning “Safeguarding Archaeological Assets of Turkey (SARAT)” projects. Each project’s goals and scope were set at different spatial and social scales, from individual to national policymaking, and used multiple methodologies to achieve their results. However, the common thread connecting them has been the emphasis on understanding public perception of archaeology. These projects have generated a nuanced picture of how people are affected by, think about, and behave toward archaeology, archaeologists, and archaeological remains. The most important outcome of the initiative has been to demonstrate that, while general knowledge of archaeology is low, Turkey’s archaeological heritage triggers intense curiosity and spurs creative narratives about the past and is assigned a high intangible value. Channeling this interest to safeguard heritage against serious threats, including a rapidly expanding construction industry, endemic illicit excavations, armed conflict, as well as climate crisis seems to be an ideal way forward. This talk will highlight different qualities of this interest and promote it as a potential resource for the future of archaeological assets in Turkey.