PROTECTION AND PRESENTATION OF PREHISTORIC SITES. A HISTORIC SURVEY FROM TURKEY

Abstract

In countries such as Turkey dense with imposing archaeological sites of historic times, early sites, regardless of their significance for the history of civilization, are mostly overlooked as they are thought to lack visual appeal. Considering the problems encountered in the preservation, restoration, and public presentation of sites with significant architecture, devising acceptable solutions for dealing with prehistoric sites is even more problematic. Considering that prehistoric sites are much more vulnerable to destruction than later sites with monumental remains, together with a growing concern to develop an appropriate strategy, various solutions are being devised from re-burying to covering under protective roofing to display by modeling. This paper after presenting an overview of the problem in general terms will consider a survey of changing trends in Turkey and conclude by a review of an assessment of selected cases that display different approaches, mainly stressing the site management projects implemented at Karatepe-Aslantas, Cayonu, Kanligecit and Asagi Pinar.