Institute of Ancient History

The Lycia Project

Welcome

1989 - 2001 an interdisciplinary field research project,under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Frank Kolb (Tuebingen) in conjunction with the FH Karlsruhe andother German as well as international institutions, has been conductedin southwestern Turkey near the popular tourist town of Kas. Field researchhas focused on the territory of the ancient polis of <link typo3 kyaneaiengl.html>Kyaneai with the goal of carrying out an intensive diachronic investigation ofthe entire rural settlement areas. Pioneering work has already been achievedby this singular archaeological project in the areas of field methodologyand in the expansion of our knowledge within the field of settlement archaeology.

Members of the Lycia Project comprise an internationalgroup with participants coming from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Turkey,and the USA. The majority of Project members had completed their universitystudies and several were pursuing doctoral degrees or concluding their "Habilitation" research.


Survey finds were examined in connection with:

  • History
  • Archaeology
  • Geology
  • Geography
  • Topography

The Project strives to find the optimal connection between individual research areas and these scientific disciplines. At the forefront stood the systematic collection and interpretation of all available information regarding the settlement history of the Projectstudy area. This goal was being pursued almost entirely on the basis ofsurface finds such as: architectural structures (which are for the mostpart preserved to an incredible height), walls, typical Lycian sarcophagi (see adjacent photo) etc., all inscriptions visible without great clearing efforts, pottery sherds,small finds, and other specific surface features associated with the climate, geology, and topography of the region. The territory of Kyaneai offersprime conditions for such research. The territory is sparsely populated, with remains virtually untoucheed since the end of the Byzantine periodaround 1200 A.D. An intensive investigation of 106 sq. km. and selectivesurvey of ca. 20 sq. km. of the 130 sq. km. area of territory have generated the location of 3,300 find spots.

The Lycia Project, initiated in 1987, has been fundedby the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) 1990-2003 and has been praisedwithin the academic community for its exemplary methodology and demanding research goals. This research has provided a basis for investigation of social, economic, and cultural history on an unprecedented level of intensity and detail. Due to the increasing reduction in public funding, however, the continuation of our research has been put into question. Thus, we would like to bring your attention to the account available for any donations you might be able to make on behalf of this Tuebingen project. Any donations are tax deductible.

Project publications are primarily to be found in the journal Lykische Studien (edited by Frank Kolb within the Asia Minor Studies series of publications) in which the individual results of the yearly campaigns are regularly published. Thusfar, volumes 1-6 of Lykische Studien have appeared under the headings of Asia Minor Studien. In addition several monographs and numerous contributions in journals have been completed. Furthermore, a documentary film about the Lycia Project appeared in 1998 on the Sueddeutschen Rundfunk channel as part of the television series entitled "Laender, Menschen, Abenteuer".

Following projects:

For further general information via email: lykien-projektspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de.