Austrian Archeologists And Researchers in The Ottoman Geography

Abstract

The first archeological researches concerning the Ottoman Period have begun in the direction of protecting the monuments which means gathering and archiving. In the nineteenth century, some archeological monuments were gathered by Ahmet Fethi Pasha in Aya Irini Chapel. Those gathered monuments, namely “Mecma-I Esliha-I Atika” (Antique Arms Collection) and “Mecma-I Asar-I Atika” (Antique Monuments Collection), have been considered among the first pattern in the field. For this respect, the establishment of “Muze-i Humayun” (Seraglio Museum) in 1869 and ordering of “Asar-i Atika Nizamnamesi” (Charter of Antique Monuments) in 1874 were the important developments in this way. Last but not least, in the mid-nineteenth century, by the nomination of Osman Hamdi Bey as a museum director, Ottoman Archeology stepped into more scientific engagement.

            In this paper, the researches of the Austrian archeologists who conducted excavations along the Ottoman geography will be analyzed especially through the nineteenth century. Therefore, this paper also aims to reveal the Austrian archeologists’ contributions to the development of the Ottoman Archeology. Examples from their archeological sites and findings through the Ottoman lands between the mid-nineteenth century to the end of the Ottoman Empire, will help to support the subject.