Fragments of Empire: Collecting and the Making of Archaeology

Location C-Amphi, Bilkent University Campus, Ankara

Date and time Thursday 16 April 2026
08:00 - 16:00 (London BST)
10:00 - 18:00 (Ankara UTC+3)

Event Summary

16-17 April 2026

Knowledge about, and narratives of, the past are shaped by geopolitics and the interplay of different interests, whether personal, political or cultural. Taking the politics of cultural heritage in the Ottoman Empire as its starting point, this workshop will address the collection of archaeological material culture, the question of private and state ownership of artefacts, diplomatic strategies, and tensions with the development of scientific archaeology. Through the lens of the history of archaeological practice, the workshop will also explore the legacy of the colonial mindset in the treatment and interpretation of archaeological materials and the ongoing construction of cultural identities through the process of decolonization.


Free entry.

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