Tarihi Eserleri Koruma ve Onarım Çalıştay Dizisi

Building a Professional Identity: Pioneering the National Workshop Series for Conservation Ethics in Türkiye

Title: A Series of Workshops on Conservation and Restoration of Historical Artefacts (Tarihi Eserleri Koruma ve Onarım Çalıştay Dizisi)
Publication: TINA: Maritime Archaeology Periodical, Issue: 5, pp. 81-87.
Year: 2016

From Individual Practice to Collective Intelligence

Conservation is often performed behind closed doors, yet its success depends on shared knowledge and ethical consensus. Recognizing this void, I initiated and coordinated the first comprehensive series of national workshops under the auspices of the Directorate of Istanbul Central Laboratory.

Following my early experience leading the ‘Historical Peninsula Experimental Researches Workshop’ in 2013, I sought to create a broader platform for licensed conservators to exchange field data and debate ethical boundaries. This journey began with Pottery (Eskişehir, 2014), continued with Metals (Istanbul, 2015), and culminated with Glass (Bodrum, 2016). By bringing together regional laboratories, universities, and international institutes, we transformed the conservation bench from a place of isolated labor into a vibrant hub of multidisciplinary synergy.

Key Highlights & Impact

The Power of Dialogue: Establishing the first sustainable national platform for conservator-restorers to present their scientific research and field experiences.

Commemorative Tributes: Honoring the legacies of veteran experts (Filiz Yuvarlak and Behçet Erdal) to bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern heritage science.

Standardizing Ethics: Facilitating the ‘Final Declaration’ of the first workshop, which serves as a foundational ethical manifesto for the profession in Türkiye.

Institutional Leadership: Managing the coordination between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, various universities (Anadolu, Yıldız Technical), and international bodies like INA.

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