Archaeological Excavation and Survey Permit Review

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYS IN TURKEY FOR 2025

[ARIT Permit Review Memo and Format]

Current permit application procedures and application form (Ek D) are posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

At the ongoing request of the Director General for Culture and Tourism, ARIT will continue to review applications for archaeological excavations and surveys in Turkey for 2025.  The policy is part of an effort to aid the General Directorate in making informed decisions on applications coming from abroad.  The Directorate is particularly concerned about the credentials of scholars who have not previously worked in Turkey, about the scholarly integrity of the project, and the financial prospects for seeing the project to completion.

Prior to submitting an application for a permit to conduct excavation or survey, a summary description of the proposed work should be sent first to ARIT.  A committee appointed by the President of ARIT in consultation with ARIT Officers and Directors will review the applications.  Details are as follows:

The deadline for submitting project descriptions to ARIT is November 1, 2024.

The project description should include the information listed on the attached “Information for Review…” Lengthy statements or copies of detailed grant proposals are not needed.

Applications for survey need to include a clear photocopy of a map indicating the area to be surveyed, in order to avoid overlaps with other survey projects.  The maps should be as large-scale as is available.

On the basis of the committee review, ARIT will make its recommendations directly to the General Directorate for Monuments and Museums in Ankara.  Project directors will be informed of ARIT’s recommendations as soon as possible.  Due to time constraints, complete applications should be submitted directly to the Turkish Consulate closest to your location by December 1, 2024.

Clearance by ARIT does not carry the guarantee that applications will be approved by the Turkish authorities.

The ARIT review procedure is a positive process, to give Turkish officials assurance that projects coming from the U.S. are scholarly and likely to secure adequate funding.

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INFORMATION FOR REVIEW OF PROPOSED EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR 2025

1.   Name and institutional affiliation of applicant.
2.   Addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address.
3.   Curriculum vitae, including fieldwork experience and bibliography.
4.   Site for excavation or area for survey; include, as appropriate, province (il), sub-district (ilce), and village.  For surveys, please append a clear copy of a map showing the area(s) proposed for survey.
5.   Inclusive dates of work.
6.   Narrative statement on proposed work, up to two single-spaced pages in length.
7.   Planned staffing (e.g., excavators, surveyors, architects, conservators, etc.).
8.   One or both of the following: a letter of guarantee of support from the applicant’s  institution, including the amount of funding; a statement of funds applied for (or to be applied for), including the granting organization(s) and amount(s) requested.

Please send the above information to ARIT by NOVEMBER 1, 2024:  by email or electronic file transfer to (leinwand at upenn.edu) or mail c/o The University of Pennsylvania Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia  PA  19104-6324 (telephone:  (215) 898-3474).

Applications should be submitted to your local Turkish Consulate by December 1, 2024.

Addresses for December submission:

Law 2863, Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets
Current Ministry Directives

Relevant Directives from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate :

October 2024 Yönerge – Translation courtesy the British Institute at Ankara (BIAA)
February 2020 Yönerge
2013 update was issued to the 2012 Directive. A chart comparing the 2013 and 2012 Yönerges is posted for reference here.
Prior Directive (Yönerge) concerning the rules and principles for conducting survey, sondage, and excavations on cultural and natural heritage, 24 February 2012.
English translation of the Directive (Yönerge), courtesy the British Institute at Ankara.
[2004 Turkish Regulations .pdf]
[June 2005 regulation ammendments.pdf]
[December 2009 notice .pdf] [December 2009 notice – English translation]