Turkey 2001

ArchaeoExpeditions - Turkey

PISIDIAN ANTIOCH

YALVAC, TURKEY

2001

See our 2002 Expedition Information for Turkey

The Following Photographs
were Taken by M. E. Clark.

Pisidian Antioch -
West Gate and Waterfall

Pisidian Antioch -
Cardo Maximus -
East-West Street

Yalvac - The Museum

Yalvac - Market Day

Yalvac - Market

Poised on the southern slopes of the Sultan Mountains in central west Turkey, the ruins of Pisidian Antioch reach back to 200 B.C. when Seleucus I or his son Antiochos I established a settlement there. It was handed over to Amyntas, King of Galatia sometime around 39 B.C. . The most illustrious part of Antioch's history, however, began in 25 B.C. when Roman Emperor Augustus established "Antiochia Caesarea" , one of the principal Roman colonies in the Greek East. The city was deliberately modeled, in some respects, on the imperial city of Rome.

A wall surrounded the city which contained large and impressive buildings, temples, squares, Roman Bath, Nymphaeum, churches, especially St. Paul's Church, city gates, main streets, plazas and theatres. Fertile lands and good living conditions allowed the city to prosper for some 200 years and the population swelled to over 50,000.

By the 3rd Century AD Antioch was named the chief city of the newly formed province of Pisidia and had reached its economic peak. In the 7th Century Arabs invaded and overtook the city until its abandonment sometime in the 13th Century.

Antioch's fame, however, lies not only from it's Roman history, but also as one of the birthplaces of Christianity. It was here in 46 AD that St. Paul gave his first sermon inside a synagogue and started to attract converts to the Christian faith. In the middle of the 4th Century a church dedicated to St. Paul was built on top of the synagogue and its ruins are subject to archaeological research today.

Archaeological interest in Antioch has been known since its re-discovery in 1833 by British Chaplain F.V.J. Arundell. Since then many studies and publications have been undertaken by scholars such as H. von Rott, Sir William Ramsay and Prof. D.M. Robinson and later, Michael Ballance. The main research which drives the work for the coming season, started with a systematic survey in 1982 under Stephen Mitchell and the Yalvac Museum. The research and rescue excavations that began in 1983 under the direction of Dr. Mehmet Taslialan Director of the Yalvac Museum, continue today.

2001 work plan

The large Roman Bath House will be one area of research. The overall size is known and it is suspected that the Bath House contains some 15 rooms, however, most rooms are filled and must be cleared. A team will undertake to learn more about this important building. The Church of St. Paul has a special historic meaning for many people and some new research will be undertaken based on the number of participants available. Participants will have an opportunity to discover Pisidian Antioch and to learn excavation and recording techniques, enjoy discussions and lectures and museum visits. Prior experience is not required, although skilled participants will be most welcome.

Project Director:
Dr. Mehmet Taslialan
Director, Yalvac Museum Isparta, Turkey
with cooperation from Dr. Stephen Mitchell,
University of Swansea, Wales, UK
and Mr. Maurice Byrne,
Independent Researcher, Leamington Spar, UK

Facilitator:
Local arrangements: Kivanc Tourism, Yalvac, Turkey

Coordinator of participants:
ArchaeoExpeditions, Ottawa Canada

See below for more details on dates, itinerary and accomodations.

Dates in 2000:- May 20 - July 1, 2001

Note: North American participants should depart 1 or 2 days prior to above start dates.

Package includes:

Pick up at closest airport (Antalya) or closest bus station (Yalvac)
Pension style accommodations in Yalvac Programme at Pisidian Antioch and local sites
Transportation to and from the archaeological zone
All meals while in Yalvac
Service and programme charges and 15% Value added tax.

Package excludes:

Airfare to Turkey, hotel in Antalya if required
Optional day trips to Catalhoyuk Archaeogical Centre, city of Konya, and the resorts of Lake Egidir (allow US$100.00)
All personal expenses including insurances, visas, etc.

Participants:

minimum 6, maximum 12 per session
Adults over 18 years of age

We are accepting expressions of interest for someone who will undertake to coordinate some field activities for the 6 week period.
Field supervisory experience on a classical site required with good references.
No salaries will be given, but assistance with room and board are offerred.

General participants - No experience necessary.

Note: Good general health is required to work in hot open environment. Lifting and shoveling may be required. Drawing, mapping, and sorting artifacts will also be undertaken. If you have health concerns please advise us in advance.

Visas and Passport requirements vary widely. Please inquire at the nearest Turkish Tourism Office or Embassy.

Bibliography: Pisidian Antioch; The Site and its Monuments, by S. Mitchell and M. Waelkens, Classical Press of Wales/Duckworth, 1998, US distributor, David Brown Books, Connecticut, Pisidian Antioch, The Journeys of St. Paul to Antioch, by Dr. Mehmet Taslialan, Goltas Cultural Series, 2, Ankara 1997 (out of print, photocopy available on request US$10.00)

Equipment: If you have an archaeological kit, please bring it along. Equipment is available at the sites and it is possible to purchase items such as shovels and pick axes locally at reasonable price. Bring a good sun hat, long cotton pants, solid work shoes, work gloves and a water bottle.

Cost: 2-weeks US$1300.00, 4-weeks US$2000.00, 6 weeks US$2500.00 A deposit of US$300.00 accepted at any time.

The Payment: Please make payment to the attention of Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc.
US$ bank or postal money orders accepted. Credit cards not accepted.

ASK FOR A REGISTRATION PACKAGE TODAY

NOTE: This ArchaeoExpedition project is the responsibility of the project authority and facilitator named above and is not in any way the responsibility of Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc.

The volunteer agrees to take full responsibility for their decision to participate in the stated ArchaeoExpedition project and to act prudently and with responsibility toward the project authority who has undertaken the organization of this opportunity on their behalf.

Further, Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc. is not a travel agent nor does it provide any travel services and is not registered under any Travel Industry Act in Canada. The volunteer and / or the project authority are responsible for making all transportation and accommodation, rental or any other travel arrangements related to this ArchaeoExpedition.

To ensure a successful and enjoyable ArchaeoExpedition experience, volunteers should independently inform themselves about the project, conditions in the host country and about tourist visas, health and other insurances, currency matters, local customs and traditions, etc.

Please contact us to reserve your space

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Cultural Expeditions MEC Inc.
Westgate P.O. Box No. 35012
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 1A2 Canada
613 264 0377 phone, 613 264 0388 fax
meclark@cyberus.ca