Priene Blogu
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
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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
A group of 160 people—comprising third-grade students, teachers, and parent representatives from Söke Sıdıka Elementary School—was accompanied by the Site Administration team during their tour of the Ancient City of Priene. We sought to contribute to the development of our children’s conservation awareness by helping them recognize, appreciate, and take ownership of this cultural heritage. May 5, 2026
The Söke Municipality’s Regular May Council Meeting was held at the Bouleuterion (Council Building), one of the important public structures of the Ancient City of Priene. Prior to the meeting, Söke Mayor Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan and Priene Ancient City Site Director Architect Mine Aşçı Altan briefed council members and members of the press on the work being carried out at the Priene Ancient City and the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. The presentation covered Priene’s cultural heritage value, conservation efforts, and the process being carried out toward the goal of inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following the briefing, the Söke Municipality held its May Regular Council Meeting. After the municipal council meeting concluded, the Söke Chamber of Commerce’s May Regular General Assembly was also held at the Bouleuterion of the Ancient City of Priene. Prior to the meeting, Metin Sakalar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Söke Chamber of Commerce, delivered a presentation highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the Ancient City of Priene for Söke and the region. Sakalar emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Priene, as well as the process of its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following the speech, members of the Söke Chamber of Commerce held their regular general assembly meeting. Thus, the Bouleuterion—which served as the city’s administrative center in ancient times—continues to host the city’s decision-making and representative bodies today, helping to forge a meaningful link between history and the present. April 4, 2026
Members of the İzmir and Aydın Chamber of Urban Planners visited Priene. The city, one of the best-preserved examples of Hellenistic-period urban planning, was examined on-site as part of a technical tour. Architect Mine AŞCI ALTAN, Site Director of the Ancient City of Priene, and members of the Site Directorate team accompanied the participants throughout the tour, providing technical information on the city’s grid plan system, architectural organization, design of public spaces, and its relationship with the topography; and also provided information regarding the city’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. April 26, 2026
Field surveys for disaster risk analysis were conducted at the Ancient City of Priene with the participation of AFAD experts and the team from the Ancient City of Priene Site Directorate. The work was carried out in two phases on April 21, 2026, and April 28, 2026, covering the northern and southern areas. As part of these field surveys, data was collected to identify disaster risks at the Ancient City of Priene and to evaluate them within the framework of balancing conservation and use.
Guides from the Aydın Tourist Guides Association (ATRO) visited the ancient city of Priene under the coordination of the Priene Ancient City Site Administration. Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Deputy Director of Excavations at the Priene Ancient City, provided local guides with academic information about the city’s history, structures, and urbanization process. It was emphasized that the program, which was also attended by the working team of the Priene Ancient City Site Administration, is significant for raising awareness and promoting Priene, which is currently in the UNESCO nomination process. April 21, 2026