Müge Şevketoğlu & Ian Hanson

This lecture focuses on the protection of prehistoric landscape in the region of Akanthou/Tatlisu in north Cyprus, rescue excavations, field, and underwater surveys. Since the beginning of the first rescue excavations and documentation works in 1996, 60 hectares of land has been declared ancient monument. Lecture concludes with future plan of an onsite museum that will serve towards capacity building and awareness raising.

Ian Hanson is Deputy Director at the Centre for Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Conservation, Cyprus International University, and a Visiting Research Fellow at Bournemouth University, where he has lectured since 2002. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Ian has 30 years of archaeological and field experience, spending more than 17,000 hours on diverse multi-period field investigations including prehistoric sites in the UK, tell sites in The United Arab Emirates and the Darhshur pyramid complex in Egypt. He has assisted Muge Sevketoglu in projects to protect the Akanthou-Tatlisu site and surrounding landscape for the last 20 years. 
 

Müge Şevketoğlu studied archaeology at Bournemouth and Bradford universities and completed her PhD at Edinburgh University under the supervision of Prof. Trevor Watkins and Prof Edgar Peltenburg. Her Phd subject, Survey of Prehistoric Settlements in Kyrenia district led her to her present rescue excavations at Akanthou/Tatlisu that she directs since 1999.  Between 1998-2005 she Chaired Archaeology Department, at Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta. In 2005 she joined US Embassy and USAID funded SAVE program as the Cultural Heritage Program Manager, leading conservation, restoration, and capacity building projects for Turkish Cypriot Community. In 2009 she founded the Centre for Archaeology and Conservation at Cyprus International University, where she continues her land and underwater field works at Akanthou/Tatlisu.