Established in 2010, the Department of Archaeology at Aksaray University’s Sabire Yazıcı Faculty of Science and Letters began admitting undergraduate students in the Fall Semester of the 2014–2015 academic year, following the completion of the necessary academic and administrative structuring. Since its inception, the department has continued its education and research activities in the field of archaeology, driven by a qualified academic staff, an approach emphasizing applied learning, and scientific research covering various historical periods. Educational activities within the department are conducted by a total of six academic staff members: two Professors, one Associate Professor, two Assistant Professors, and one Research Assistant.
With expertise spanning Prehistory, Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, and Classical Archaeology, our academic staff ensures that students receive comprehensive training across the various periods and disciplines of archaeology. The department currently conducts archaeological fieldwork—encompassing sites of diverse periods and characteristics—such as the excavations at the Ancient City of Tyana, Keçe Cave, and Büyükdeller. These projects offer students the opportunity to observe and participate in excavation processes firsthand and to gain experience in archaeological methods, including documentation, artifact analysis, illustration, photography, surveying, and field research.
The primary objective of our program is to train qualified archaeologists who possess scientific thinking and research skills, are proficient in contemporary archaeological methods and technologies, are competent in fieldwork, and hold a sense of responsibility regarding the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage to future generations. In this context, the aim is for students not only to acquire professional knowledge but also to develop skills in critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific research, and academic production.
Our graduates have the opportunity to work in public institutions, museums, municipalities, archaeological excavation and research projects, as well as in the fields of cultural heritage and the private sector. With its strong field experience, an academic structure covering diverse archaeological periods, and an approach emphasizing applied learning, the Aksaray University Department of Archaeology prepares students to investigate the past using scientific methods, and to preserve and pass on cultural heritage to future generations.
