The Goksu Archaeological Project

Upper Göksu Valley, Turkey

The Göksu Archaeological Project is an investigation of the upper Göksu River valley in southern Turkey, using intensive and extensive survey techniques to examine changes in settlement patterns over time. The project (currently in its third year) is scheduled to run for five years, with fieldwork occurring in 4 to 5 week seasons during the late spring and early summer. The project is led by Dr. Hugh Elton, Director of the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara (BIAA). From 2004, the project has included a survey team from the College of Charleston coordinated by Dr. James Newhard.

This area of southern Turkey, usually described as Rough Cilicia or Isauria, is a transitional zone between central Anatolia and Syria. It was continually occupied from the Chalcolithic era (if not earlier) to modern times. Isauria is particularly famous as the site of the ecclesiastical complex at Alahan and as the birthplace of the emperor Zeno (474-491) and for the death of Frederick Barbarossa (1190).

Little intensive field survey work has taken place in the Göksu valley, and fieldwork is producing new information concerning settlement and land use changes over time, complementing existing work which has focused on structures and inscriptions. A detailed statement regarding the goals of the project can be found here.

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© 2004 The Göksu Archaeological Project

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Last updated: 8/03/05