One of the most important developments in the last 25 years was the inclusion of Ephesus and its components in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Ephesus” in 2015. This historic milestone marked the recognition of Ephesus’ universal value.
During our event, we will be informed about the historical transformation of Ephesus over the past 25 years, its current status, and ongoing projects.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Mustafa Büyükkolancı
Dr. Mustafa Büyükkolancı began his career at the Ephesus Museum in 1975. Alongside his work in museology, he took part in the excavations at Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, and Ayasuluk Fortress. During this period, the Treasure Room of the Basilica was discovered, and in 1990 and 1996, he helped uncover the presence of the ancient city of Old Ephesus (likely Apasas) on Ayasuluk Hill.
Between 1985 and 2005, he served as an excavation team archaeologist at sites such as Harran (Urfa), Notion, the Side Theater, and Zeugma. In 1996, he completed his PhD dissertation on “Temple Architecture in the Pisidia Region.”
After leaving the Ephesus Museum in 2002, he worked as a faculty member at the Department of Archaeology at Pamukkale University in Denizli until 2016. During this time (2003–2006), he also participated in the excavations at Laodicea.
From 2007 to 2019, he served as the Director of Excavations at Ayasuluk Hill and the Basilica of St. John. Since 2019, he has continued to contribute to the work as Honorary Director of Excavations.