Holding up a Mirror to the Profession: A Statistical and Institutional Audit of Türkiye’s Conservation Landscape (2012–2020)
(Mesleğe Ayna Tutmak: Türkiye’nin Konservasyon Alanı Üzerine İstatistiki ve Kurumsal Bir Denetim)
Book Title: Survey Result Report on the Evaluation of Tangible Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration in Türkiye and Reflections (Türkiye’de Somut Kültürel Mirasın Restorasyon ve Konservasyonu Değerlendirme Anketi Sonuç Raporu ve Düşündürdükleri)
Co-Publishers: Uğur GENÇ & The Association of Archaeologists (Arkeologlar Derneği)
Series: Koru&Yorum (Protect&Discuss) Series, No: 1
Format: Open-Access Electronic Book (e-Book)
ISBN: 978-605-06741-2-5
Year: May 2020 (Data framework spanning 2012–2020)
(Mesleğe Ayna Tutmak: Türkiye’nin Konservasyon Alanı Üzerine İstatistiki ve Kurumsal Bir Denetim)
Book Title: Survey Result Report on the Evaluation of Tangible Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration in Türkiye and Reflections (Türkiye’de Somut Kültürel Mirasın Restorasyon ve Konservasyonu Değerlendirme Anketi Sonuç Raporu ve Düşündürdükleri)
Co-Publishers: Uğur GENÇ & The Association of Archaeologists (Arkeologlar Derneği)
Series: Koru&Yorum (Protect&Discuss) Series, No: 1
Format: Open-Access Electronic Book (e-Book)
ISBN: 978-605-06741-2-5
Year: May 2020 (Data framework spanning 2012–2020)
From Systemic Issues to Concrete Solutions: The Voice of the Conservation Bench
In heritage management, true quality control cannot occur without confronting the structural vulnerabilities of the field. Moving away from isolated laboratory analysis, I designed and conducted a landmark longitudinal survey tracking the opinions, frustrations, and professional needs of 100 active heritage experts over an eight-year period (2012, 2016, and 2020).
Published as an open-access e-book in partnership with leading NGOs like The Association of Archaeologists, this text functions as an institutional whistleblower. It addresses 22 core problems—ranging from the perceived inadequacy of 2-year and 4-year vocational degrees to systematic salary disparities, bureaucratic production-line pressures, and the lack of standardized national protocols. This book stands as a methodological manifesto, asserting that safeguarding cultural heritage requires not only technical tools, but an absolute commitment to meritocracy, justice, and professional autonomy for the Conservator-Restorer.
Key Highlights & Impact
- The 87% Awareness: Documenting a staggering consensus where 87% of active practitioners stated that archaeological artifacts are not sufficiently protected or preserved, highlighting a critical need for systemic reform.
- The Educational Void: Exposing that an overwhelming majority of professionals find the 2-year university training programs completely inadequate (82.5% in 2020), forcing a national discussion on educational standards.
- The Compensation Disparity: Tracking the rise of financial dissatisfaction, where negative feedback regarding conservator salaries climbed from 54% in 2012 to 87.5% by 2020, linking financial security directly with ethical output.
- Defending against Pseudo-Certificates: Unifying the sector’s opposition (47% negative rating) against non-academic private entities issuing fast-track, profit-driven restoration certificates.
- The Multi-NGO Endorsement: Securing official supporting statements and prefaces from the presidents of major national archaeology, conservation, and architecture associations, creating a unified civil front for policy change.
If you see, if you hear, and if you know, you are responsible.
