International Symposium on Battlefield Archaeology started in SU

The International Symposium on Battlefield Archaeology organized in cooperation with Selçuk University and Konya Metropolitan Municipality has started. 6 sessions will be held in the 2-day symposium program.

Selçuk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tuğrul Polat, at the opening of the symposium held at Sultan Alparslan Cultural Center, said that Konya and its surroundings are an important geography for research and studies in the field of battlefield archaeology. Prof. Dr. Polat stated that as the patron University of Konya, the seat of the Seljuks, they have an exceptional and important role in understanding and explaining the Seljuk heritage and said, "For this purpose, the existence of a research institute within our body is one of our strengths. The International Battlefield Archaeology Symposium also proves the efforts of our Institute for the purpose of its establishment and the pioneering role it has assumed in this field."

"THERE ARE NEARLY 3 THOUSAND ARTIFACTS IN OUR MUSEUM"

Prof. Dr. Polat stated that Selçuk University Museum is ready to be opened with the arrangements and said, "I would like to mention that our university is a private museum affiliated to the Ministry. We have nearly 3 thousand artifacts. These artifacts show diversity. We have artifacts from the American continent to Asia, Anatolian Seljuks and Ottoman artifacts. With the appointment of Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy, we started to work on 'how can we activate the museum quickly?' We have a large museum building. There are two exhibition halls for artifacts in the building. There are also two open exhibition areas. It is a big area with a conference hall and other structural elements. It was in an idle state. Our Museum Director realized his work after his appointment. With great efforts, we placed all our artifacts in a hall of the museum after inventory registration, and they are ready. It was a beautiful work."

Prof. Dr. Polat thanked those who contributed to the organization of the symposium.

"WE EXPECT SUPPORT FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF BATTLEFIELDS"

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Hacıgökmen, President of the International Symposium on Battlefield Archaeology and Director of Seljuk Research Institute at Seljuk University, stated that Battlefield Archaeology is a new branch of science and said: "We know that this archaeology has come to the forefront in countries such as England, France, Germany and Italy, which have emerged and developed in Europe since the 1980s, and that many battlefields where they fought have been identified and recorded and opened to tourism. In Turkey, this is a very, very new branch of science. Although it is a new branch of science, it is an important branch of science for us in terms of identifying the battlefields, starting from Malazgirt, continuing with Miryokefalon and the Crusades, exclusive to the Seljuks, the Ottoman Empire and our War of Independence, where we fought many wars of wealth and absence. This has already been realized in terms of the location of the Battle of Gallipoli, but as Selçuk University and the Institute of Seljuk Studies, we are thinking of getting involved in this work with certain projects and finding support for these studies, especially in terms of determining the locations of Malazgirt, Miryokefalon and the Crusades. For this, the support of our Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy is very important for us. I would like to thank Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay and Mr. Ahmet Bilgiç for organizing our symposium. Their support enabled our symposium to be held. I hope it will be a fruitful beginning."

The opening of the symposium was attended by Selçuk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Emrullah Eken, Director of the Institute of Turkiat Studies Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sefer Solmaz, Deputy Director of the Institute of Seljuk Studies Assoc. Dr. Zehra Odabaşı, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Branch Manager Coşkun Bilgi, Istanbul University - Cerrahpaşa Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Vedat Onar, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Cihan Piyadeoğlu, lecturers and students.