Priene Blogu
As part of the work being carried out under the Priene Ancient City Site Management Plan and the UNESCO World Heritage List nomination process, a technical inspection visit was conducted to the ancient city of Stratonikeia with the participation of representatives from the Priene Ancient City Site Administration and the Excavation Directorate, as well as a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During the visit, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt—the Director of the Stratonikeia Excavation and a member of the Priene Ancient City Advisory Board—the group toured the ancient city and examined on-site the ongoing excavation, conservation, restoration, site management, and visitor management practices. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt for sharing his knowledge and experience in the areas of site management, conservation, and visitor management with us, and we extend our gratitude to him and his valued team for their kind hospitality and warm welcome. July 22, 2026
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As part of the work being carried out under the Priene Ancient City Site Management Plan and the UNESCO World Heritage List nomination process, a technical inspection visit was conducted to the ancient city of Stratonikeia with the participation of representatives from the Priene Ancient City Site Administration and the Excavation Directorate, as well as a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During the visit, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt—the Director of the Stratonikeia Excavation and a member of the Priene Ancient City Advisory Board—the group toured the ancient city and examined on-site the ongoing excavation, conservation, restoration, site management, and visitor management practices. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt for sharing his knowledge and experience in the areas of site management, conservation, and visitor management with us, and we extend our gratitude to him and his valued team for their kind hospitality and warm welcome. July 22, 2026
Architect Mine Aşcı Altan, Site Director of the Ancient City of Priene, along with Priene Excavation Deputy Directors Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın and Dr. Buğra Kuru, and Arzu Ovacık, a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, paid a visit to Mr. Ali Akça, the District Governor of Söke, at his office. During the visit, information was provided regarding the excavation, conservation, site management, and work carried out as part of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process at the Ancient City of Priene, and assessments were made regarding the projects planned for the coming period. July 21, 2026
Led by Özel Söke Sınav College and carried out in collaboration with partner schools—Söke Cafer Efe Girls’ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and Şehit Faruk Demir Anatolian Imam Hatip High School—the “My City, Söke: Youth Discover Their Cities,” led by Özel Söke Sınav College in collaboration with partner schools Söke Cafer Efe Girls’ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and Şehit Faruk Demir Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, held its 2026 final presentations. The projects prepared as part of this initiative—which aims to develop our youth’s sense of civic identity, awareness of their surroundings, and sense of belonging—were shared with the participation of students and representatives from partner institutions. As part of this project, in which we are a partner, the Priene Ancient City Site Administration team followed the presentations with great interest. We would like to thank all our teachers, students, and partner organizations for their efforts in bringing this project to life and ensuring its successful continuation, and we hope that our young people’s commitment to taking ownership of their cities will continue to grow.
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Hayriye EŞBAH TUNÇAY, a member of the Advisory Board of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate, and with the guidance of Mine AŞÇI ALTAN, Director of the Priene Ancient City Site, the final jury for the “Sediment of Time, Priene Shifting Grounds,” was held at the Department of Landscape Architecture at Istanbul Technical University. Throughout the semester, students focused on the ancient city of Priene and the settlements of Güllübahçe and Turunçlar, developing original project proposals on the themes of cultural heritage, landscape, conservation, and visitor experience. Our Department Chair, Mine AŞÇI ALTAN, also contributed to the project process as an advisor and participated in both the interim and final juries. The jury, which reviewed the final presentations of projects inspired by the natural, cultural, and archaeological values of Priene and its surroundings, provided young designers with an opportunity to share their visions for the region’s future. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Hayriye EŞBAH TUNÇAY, the students, and all jury members for their contributions to this valuable work. June 16, 2026
As part of the 2nd Priene Culture Festival organized by the Söke Municipality, a captivating concert featuring artist Alxandra Gravas took place at the theater in the Ancient City of Priene. The concert, coordinated by the Ancient City of Priene Site Administration, brought together the historic atmosphere and the arts. May 9, 2026
As part of the 2nd Priene Culture Festival organized by the Söke Municipality, we, the Priene Ancient City Site Administration, held an Archaeology Workshop for children. The children who participated in the workshop first discovered artifacts hidden underground; they then recorded their finds on find sheets and conducted an inventory. At the end of the process, they received “Young Explorer” certificates from the experts and experienced a small-scale excavation. Through this workshop, we sought to help children experience and understand cultural heritage and the importance of preserving it. Söke District Governor Mr. Ali Akça and Söke Mayor Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan visited the archaeology workshop and presented the certificates to the young explorers. May 9, 2026
A meeting of the Advisory Board for the Priene Ancient City Management Area was held in the former village of Doğanbey, Söke. The meeting, attended by members of the Priene Ancient City Management Area Advisory Board and the Site Directorate team, addressed the details of the Priene Ancient City Site Management Plan and the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. During the meeting, participants evaluated the ongoing work and shared suggestions and contributions regarding the process. May 8, 2026
A panel titled “A Legacy for the Future: What Does Archaeology Tell Us?” was held at the Söke Ephesus Cinema. Organized under the coordination of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate and with the participation of members of the Site Directorate’s Advisory Board, the panel discussed the science of archaeology, excavation processes, and current approaches to the preservation of cultural heritage. The panel featured Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University and Director of the Priene Ancient City Excavations; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Yılmazyaşar, a faculty member of the Department of Art History at Anadolu University and Director of the Karacahisar Castle Excavations; Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Research Assistant at the Department of Archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University and Deputy Director of the Priene Ancient City Excavation; and Architect Mine Aşçı Altan, Site Director of the Priene Ancient City. The speakers provided insights into the scientific aspects of archaeological research, the processes involved in conducting excavations, and practices aimed at preserving cultural heritage. In the final segment of the panel, questions from the audience—comprising residents of Söke and surrounding districts—were answered, and a comprehensive discussion took place on the connection archaeology establishes between the past and the future. At the end of the panel, an interactive environment was created during a discussion with members of the Priene Ancient City Advisory Board, who participated as both panelists and audience members. It was noted that the event provided local participants with the opportunity to obtain direct information about the Ancient City of Priene and the ongoing processes and to ask questions, while panelists and advisory board members also had the opportunity to evaluate questions, opinions, and suggestions from the local community. May 7, 2026
As part of the “My City Söke: Youth Learn on Site” project, an event was organized at the Ancient City of Priene with the participation of students. During the event, information was shared on the preservation of cultural heritage, while the students performed in the ancient theater and then toured the Ancient City of Priene. Söke District Governor Ali Akça, Priene Ancient City Site Director Mine Aşçı Altan, Priene Ancient City Excavation Director Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert, Deputy Director of Excavations at the Ancient City of Priene Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Söke Deputy Mayors Murat Günal and Necmettin Aka, and Söke Chamber of Commerce President Metin Sakalar attended the opening of the event, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert and Mine Aşçı Altan shared their insights on the historical significance of the Ancient City of Priene and the preservation of cultural heritage. The program, which included students from Cafer Efe Girls’ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, Şehit Faruk Demir Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, and Söke Exam College, aimed to raise young people’s awareness of cultural heritage preservation and to allow them to explore the Ancient City of Priene firsthand. May 6, 2026