Archaeologists from Japan train students at the excavation site of Uc Hoyuk, located in Bolvadin, Turkey.
Excavation at Uc Hoyuk Mound in Bolvadin, Afyonkarahisar Gains Momentum
The archaeological excavation at Uc Hoyuk Mound in Bolvadin, Afyonkarahisar is currently underway with a renewed sense of purpose and momentum. Led by Professors Satoshi Urano and Yukinori Fukatsu from Rikkyo University in Japan, the international team aims to locate the lost city of Purushanda and develop Uc Hoyuk into an internationally recognized archaeological site.
The project, which received increased official backing last year, is now integrated into Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Heritage for the Future project. The excavation has been ongoing for two years under a presidential decision. Teams have recently started sondaj (test-trench) work in selected areas, providing hands-on excavation training for young scholars.
The international team includes three students from Japan, who are studying under Professor Urano and focusing on the ancient history of Turkey and the Mediterranean region. They are gaining their first excavation experience at Uc Hoyuk, working alongside Turkish archaeologists and local university teams.
Rei Uchiyama, one of the students, finds the fieldwork at Uc Hoyik to be a very good experience. Koharu Egawa, another student, is glad to have gained practical excavation skills at the site. The Japanese specialists are assisting the dig to move forward, and they are bonding with Turkish students at the dig site, forming new friendships.
The wider aim is to develop Uc Hoyuk into an internationally recognized archaeological site. The combined teams are sorting and assessing finds uncovered at the site, with the hope that the lost city of Purushanda will soon be discovered. The support for the dig comes from Selcuk University rectorate, the provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Bolvadin district governor's office, and the municipality. The project is expected to continue to provide valuable opportunities for young scholars and contribute to the understanding of ancient civilizations.
[1] Information sourced from various news articles and academic publications.
- Despite the ongoing excavation being in Turkey, the Japanese students, Rei Uchiyama and Koharu Egawa, are gaining hands-on experience in Turkish archaeology at Uc Hoyuk Mound, specifically in Istanbul's region.
- As part of Turkey’s Heritage for the Future project, the project at Uc Hoyuk Mound aims to not only locate the lost city of Purushanda, but also to enhance the site's standing in science and education-and-self-development, making it a notable center for learning about ancient civilizations.
- As the excavation at Uc Hoyuk Mound progresses, the international team is not only working towards the discovery of the lost city, but also establishing strong bonds with their Turkish counterparts, promoting cross-cultural understanding and cooperation in the field of archaeology.
