Urban Archaeology and Management of Cultural Heritage Master's Program (Turkish with Thesis) (M.A., 1 - 2 Years)

Although many do not realise, people living in historical cities have an archaeological site beneath their feet. Multi-layered archaeological remains underneath such cities form part of the archaeological record of their past life. This course focuses on the management of archaeological projects within urban environments that are still developing. The methods and techniques of archaeological excavation and documentation, the quantification and analysis of finds, as well as interpretative frameworks used in archaeology will also be discussed. In addition, theoretical discussion of urban archaeology as a sub-discipline of contemporary archaeology will be undertaken. National as well as international establishments dealing with the subject will be defined and their practical work will be analysed and the legal frameworks of such projects will be dealt with. The necessity to establish the continuity of the modern urban landscape with its archaeological past, the documentation and protection of this historical/archaeological heritage in a sustainable way involving archaeologists, anthropologists, architects and city-planners will be underlined. This multidisciplinary approach and communication among the disciplines will be discussed, and practical techniques of urban archaeology will be taught to the students. Contribution of such approaches to those with decision-making powers concerning the built space will also be discussed

The course will focus on various methods of architectural construction, architectural styles, buildings within the framework of rural and urban environments and their settlement planning, underlining how such variants shape the design of architectural complexes. The time-span will range from the prehistoric periods to today and the course will provide an overview of world architectural history from an archaeological viewpoint. The course will also analyse the design of architectural constructions within an archaeological/philosophical viewpoints with the aim of providing how the function of buildings such as palaces/other administrative buildings, temples/sacred spaces and workshops can be derived from the archaeological/architectural record. From the beginnings of the concept of architectural history, archaeological, industrial and historical buildings will be used as archaeological data to read their history in various ways. The concepts of architectural constructions from prehistoric periods to Medieval and recent times will also be dealt with starting from the designers of buildings to the work of stone-masons.

This course will focus on the documentation of and scientific research on archaeological finds from the moment of their discovery to post-excavation processing. Subjects covered will include analysis of stratigraphy, the process and documentation of excavations, dating methods, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, pottery analysis, archaeometallurgy and isotopic analysis, contemporary archaeological techniques, theories and practice. Besides the excavation process, field surveys, their documentation, analytical methods and the interpretation of material culture and finds, archaeological archives and the publication of their results will also be dealt with. Interdisciplinary studies of finds from excavations, their classification and archiving, as well as their interpretation using interdisciplinary cooperation will be discussed through various interpretative frameworks and practical examples.

In Seminar course, students are guided regarding the thesis writing and research methods.