News & Insights from the Istanbul Department of the German Archaeological Institute
DAI-IST-KB4565, Manfred Korfmann (1973) This massive wall in the monthly photo from our archive is from Alacahöyük. The sign painted on the wall confuses us. It reads “Hittite the 2nd storey”. After an entertaining discussion on whether it is the second floor of the building, the second row of walls, or the second layer of […]
This week are the European Archaeology Days. Within this framework the French Institute for Anatolian Studies (IFEA) and the French Institute of Turkey – Istanbul are holding the Turkish-European Archaeology Days from 17 to 19 June 2022. The event is opened to the public and will be held at the French Institute of Turkey – […]
What is the job of an archaeologist? Generally speaking: The archaeologist reconstructs the past of mankind and researches cultural development. And to be more precise: During excavations, archaeologists uncover the material legacies of past times and interpret them. Archaeologists and visitors interpret uncovered structures during an excavation. Graphic: DAI-IST, M. Kinzel We people of the […]
The Istanbul Department is pleased to offer “Frühjahresführungen” again this year. On Sunday 05 June at 12:30, our colleague and architect Burcu Akan will talk about “Florya Atatürks Residenz am Meer und die türkische Architektur der klassischen Moderne”. Meeting point is at the Marmaray railway station Florya. The tour will be held in German. The […]
The 4th seminar of the 6th Research Network „Building, Building Economy and Building Sites“ was held online on April 1st and 2nd, 2022. It focused on the “lifecycle” of ancient buildings (Fig. 1). In this context, we asked for models for upkeep, repair and reuse. Another point was the relationship between continuity and change as […]
D-DAI-IST-R26184 , W. Schiele (1989) In the photo of the month, we see the young librarian Ali Akkaya working at the typewriter in the old building of our institute in Sıraselviler. Before the digital cataloging system was introduced in 2001, every record of the library was typed and reproduced manually. In 1989, when the Istanbul […]
This Thursday, 19.05.2022, 06:00 pm (AEDT) (10:00 am, Istanbul TR/ 09:00 am, CEST), our colleague Dr. Lee Clare will give a lecture as part of the Annual Edwin Cuthbert Hall Lecture in Archaeology. In his lecture “Göbekli Tepe: Fantastic Beasts and Prehistoric Mysteries”, Lee Clare will present the most recent findings on the excavation site […]
Architecture is often a very prominent feature on archaeological sites. How to document building remains? How to read and understand building remains? How to make sense of the remains? How to identify the various construction phases and processes influencing the building’s biography? How were they actually constructed? How to reconstruct them in a meaningful way? […]
D-DAI-IST-R12962a, Photographer and Date Unknown In our photo of the month we are witnesses to the discovery at Zincirli Höyük of impressive stone reliefs from the Late Hittite period. Those of us who have worked on archaeological excavations know only too well the excitement that emanates from such new finds, frequently leading to lunch breaks […]
The Lycian city of Patara has one of the most important ports of the eastern Mediterranean. Due to the increasing commercial and military importance of its well-protected harbour, which was an emporium, Patara achieved the designation “caput gentis Lyciae”. The settlement structures of the city were also determined by the natural features of this harbour […]
