Excavations are continuing at 8 different archeological sites under the leadership of 8 archeologists, 2 of them from abroad, at Muğla. The first of the excavations is expected to start soon.
In Muğla, boasting 195 archeological sites of which 22 are regulated, no axcavations can be carried out on three sites which were active last year, for various reasons. While excavations at Turgut Lagina in Yatağan have been continuing throughout the year, the digs at the Stratonikeia Antique city have been interrupted for the past two years, due to insufficient funds.
As many historical locations are uncovered at the excavations in Milas, the work is expected to go on for many years.
Scientific excavations in Muğla in 2008:
1- Milas – The excavations of Iassos Antique city, started in 1960, are continuing under the leadership of Italian Archeologist Prof. Fede Berti.
2- Fethiye – Akdeniz University Member of the Academy Prof. Havva Işık is leading the excavations at Tlos Archeological site, started in 2005.
3- Milas - The excavations at Beçin Fort, started in 1995, are being led by Aegean University Member of the Academy Prof. Rahmi Ünal.
4- Milas – Swedish Archeologist Associate Professor Dr. Lars Karlsson is in charge of the Labranda archeological site digs, started in 1948.
5- Köyceğiz – Kaunos Antique city excavations, started in 197, are under the charge of Başkent University Academy Member Prof. Cengiz Işık.
6- Yatağan – Selçuk University Academy Member Prof. Ahmet Tırpan is leading the excavations at the Lagina Antique City and Börükçü Necropolis, which started in 1993.
7- Datça – The excavations at Burgaz archeological site, started in 1993, are under the leadership of Middle East Technical University Academy Member Prof. Numan Tuna.
8 Bodrum – Muğla University Academy Member Prof. Adnan Diler is in charge of the digs in Pedesa archeological site, started in 2007.
The excavations in the Muğla region start at the end of June and continue until the end of October. Yatağan – Lagina Heckate holy grounds and Bölükçü Necropolis digs continue the whole year.
Sites where excavations have stopped:
1- Bodrum – Excavation of the Myndos Antique City started in 2004 with surface studies. It was included in the group of scientific archeological excavations in 2006. The excavations under way by a team of 45 under the leadership of Prof. Mustafa Şahin from the Archeology Department of Uludağ University were stopped in 2008 due to the expropriation of private lands.
2- Datça – The first excavations at the Knidos Antique city were carried out during the years of 1856-1858 by the British researcher Charles Newton, and many historical artifacts were brought to light. The ongoing excavations at the antique city were stopped by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2008 with the rationale that “restorative interventions were harming the artifacts”.
3- Yatağan – The excavations at Stratonikeia Antique city stopped when Associate Professor Dr. Çetin Şahin, who had been leading the excavation team since 2002, resigned in 2006. Lagina Antique city assistant leader Associate Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt was appointed to lead the excavation by the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums last month. The excavations were supposed to start on July 1st, but as the necessary funding and personnel couldn”t be obtained. The needed funding of 115,000 TRL is expected to be available sometime in August.
