Original Context: Presented at the Rescue Excavations and Museum Studies Symposium (2014) and published as a foundational technical guide.
As the number of archaeological excavations in Türkiye increases, the gap between discovery and expert conservation remains a critical challenge. This study serves as a strategic manual for museum professionals and archaeologists who often find themselves as the first responders to fragile cultural assets. It outlines the legal, ethical, and technical protocols required to protect artifacts during the “critical window” between their exposure and the arrival of a professional conservator.
Unlike traditional papers, this publication follows a unique dual-track strategy. While the oral presentation focused on practical field applications, the published text serves as a comprehensive literature review, introducing professionals to the most vital national and international resources (ICCROM, ICOMOS, UNESCO) and specialized Turkish conservation guides.
The “Every Archaeologist is a Passive Conservator” Philosophy: The research advocates for the integration of basic preventive training in archaeology departments, emphasizing that conservation is not a secondary task but the foundation of the excavation process.
Legal Framework: It provides a clear breakdown of the responsibilities of museum experts and excavation directors according to the Law No. 2863 and the 1990 Museum Internal Service Regulation.
First-Response Protocols: The paper details essential field actions—including micro-environment control, proper handling, packaging, and the use of protective temporary shelters—for artifacts ranging from delicate organics to architectural remains.
Holistic Management: It categorizes preventive conservation as a continuous process, from the first lifting in the trench to the final storage in the museum depot, emphasizing that “active intervention” never truly replaces the need for “preventive care.”
By consolidating decades of institutional knowledge and academic literature into a single accessible format, this work functions as a professional manifesto. It establishes a unified technical language for the Turkish museum community, ensuring that “discovery” does not lead to “destruction.”
Genç, U. (2015). “Arkeolojik Kazı Alanlarında Ön Koruma”, 23. Müze Çalışmaları ve Kurtarma Kazıları Sempozyumu, (4-7 Mayıs 2014, Mardin), Kültür Varlıkları ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüğü Yayınları, 253-262.