Ord.Prof. Ekrem Akurgal was Turkey’s most prominent archaeologist, whose research is closely followed in the world of historical and archaeological studies.During his long university career he trained hundreds of young archaeologists desperately needed by a country overflowing with ancient sites left by scores of civilisations over the past twelve thousand years.

As well as lecturing at Turkish and foreign universities, Akurgal engaged in innumerable excavations with his students, publishing the results in hundreds of papers and several books.

Like all truly great men, Prof. Ekrem Akurgal was a thinker of broad perspective, who did not focus merely on revealing and interpreting the evidence of past civilisations, but took a close interest in modern society, seeking the historic roots of current events and proposing solutions for present and future.

Akurgal’s work gave him insight into the way in which societies have influenced one another throughout history, thus generating constant change.

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Prof. Halet Çambel is an eminent scholar and expert in the archaeology of the Anatolian Peninsula. She was not only the first woman archeologist of Turkey, but also one of the first women fencers Turkey sent to participate at the 1936 olympic games.

Halet Çambel was born in 1916 in Berlin. She studied primary school in Germany, completed middle and high school at Arnavutköy American Girls College in İstanbul. She studied at Sorbonne University in France, between 1933-1939. In 1940 she became assistant professor at İstanbul Literature University. She completed her doctorate in 1944, became assistant professor in 1947 and professor in 1960. She gave classes as guest lecturer at Saarbrücken University in Germany between 1962-1963. She returned in 1963 and in 1964 founded the prehistoric archeology at İstanbul University and has taught and inspired generations of students. She is renowned for conducting rescue excavations of endangered heritage sites, introducing stone restoration and ensuring proper conservation of significant cultural heritage in Turkey.

She was instrumental in protecting a village of unique Turkish houses and has recently opened an Art and Culture House where concerts, exhibitions and other cultural activities take place. Halet Çambel’s meticulous scholarship, commitment to international collaboration and enthusiasm for innovative research are praised both in Turkey and in the wider international community.

Her numerous publications (from 1938 onwards), television programs, documentaries, and the first open-air museum of antiquities at the Karatepe-Aslantaş site, are among her contributions to knowledge of and accessibility to the civilizations and historical riches of Turkey. She was honored with 2004 Prince Claus Award for her dedicated scholarship and for her unique role in expanding the possibilities for interaction between people and their cultural heritage.

She is the wife for the past 65 years of renowned architect Nail Çakırhan.