Archaeology and History of Art

Overview

The Department of Archaeology and History of Art (ARHA) offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of archaeology, the history of art and visual culture, late antique and Byzantine studies, cultural heritage management, museum studies, and maritime archaeology. Our courses cover a wide historical and geographical scope including prehistoric Anatolia, the Greek, and Roman Empires, the Late Antique period, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and the modern period and introduce the students to recent theories and methodologies in archeology and art history. Active engagement in the study of archeology and art and architectural history is integral to our curriculum and ranges from hands-on training in methods of analysis and conservation in the university's laboratories to field trips to archaeological sites and architectural monuments, museum visits, and participation in conferences and workshops organized by Turkish and international visiting scholars and specialists.

Our students are further encouraged to participate in one of our archaeological excavation projects during the summer, conduct internships at museums or cultural heritage organizations, and participate in workshops in Turkey and abroad. They are also encouraged to take courses essential to their area of interest or specialization in the field of Digital Humanities and in Languages of the Mediterranean and Anatolian worlds, such as Greek, Latin, Hittite, Luwian, and Ottoman Turkish. ARHA's multidisciplinary educational approach provides a wide range of employment opportunities for their students, including in museums and cultural heritage organizations.

Our department collaborates with several research institutions affiliated with Koc University and located around the country: Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED), Vehbi Koc Ankara Studies Research Center (VEKAM), Suna & Inan Kirac Research Center for Mediterranean Civilizations (AKMED), The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (GABAM), and the Koc University Mustafa V. Koc Maritime Archaeology Research Center (KUDAR).