ÇATALHÖYÜK 2002 ARCHIVE REPORT

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The 'Temper' project: Training, Education, Management and Prehistory in the Mediterranean

Louise Doughty

 

Abstract

During 2002, the Çatalhöyük Research Project has been involved in 'Temper', a European Union funded project involving five prehistoric sites in four Mediterranean countries. This section will describe the project aims and methodology, and the specific outcomes of the project for Çatalhöyük.

 

Introduction

The 'Temper' project, ('Training, Education, Management and Prehistory in the Mediterranean') is a Mediterranean-wide heritage project funded by the European Union. The application was put together by the Çatalhöyük Research Project (particularly Rebecca Coombs and Shahina Farid), and consultants Dr Peter Chowne and Dr Aylin Orbaşlı. The project began in January 2002 and will continue until June 2004.

 

Temper Key Facts

Project Funding

The Temper project is funded by the European Union under the Euro-Med Heritage II Programme. The programme aims to preserve European-Mediterranean heritage by raising awareness of the heritage and promoting cultural tourism. It also seeks to develop skills in heritage management in the beneficiary countries. Temper is the only project funded under the Euro-Med programme that focuses on prehistoric heritage.

 

Aims of Temper project

The aim of the Temper project is to make prehistoric cultural heritage more accessible to a wider audience. This will be achieved by:

developing pilot educational programmes

developing integrated management plans

offering training opportunities in heritage management

and through dissemination of the results.

The Temper project methodology consists of two key strands of work: the development of integrated site management plans (plus training in management best practice) and the development of educational and interpretive programmes. These will be conducted as pilot projects at each site. The pilots will explore the challenges and issues involved in managing, interpreting, and presenting prehistoric sites to the public. Each pilot will be evaluated and the results of this work will feed into the publication of guidelines on the management and interpretation of prehistoric sites. The project will culminate in an international conference.

 

Project Make-up

The Temper project involves five prehistoric sites in four Mediterranean countries. In addition to Çatalhöyük, the sites involved are: Ubeidiya, a Lower Palaeolithic scavenging site and Sha'ar Hagolan, a Neolithic and Bronze settlement site, both in the Jordan Valley, Israel; Paliambela Kolindros, a Neolithic tell site in Greece; and Kordin III, a Neolithic temple site in Malta. The five sites span a vast period of prehistory and provide evidence for some of the most significant events in the archaeological record, such as the migration of hominids out of Africa (Ubeidiya) and the development of agriculture (Çatalhöyük). The physical remains range from mud brick architecture to paved streets and megalithic temples, from early stone tools to figurines and decorated pottery.

The project is managed by the University of Cambridge, under the directorship of Professor Ian Hodder. The role of each partner is described below:

 

 

The Temper Project at Çatalhöyük

One of the aims of the Çatalhöyük Research Project is 'to provide the Turkish Ministry of Culture with a well planned heritage site'. [1] The work of the Temper project will provide a substantial boost towards achieving this aim. Consultations and research to inform the development of the management plan commenced this summer under the direction of Dr Aylin Orbaşlı. The plan will present an integrated management strategy for the site including issues such as conservation, visitor management and the needs of the working excavation.  A consultation draft of the plan will be available on the Çatalhöyük website (www.catalhoyuk.com) and comments are welcomed.

The Economic and Social History Foundation (ESHF) also began work this year on the development of the educational programme for the site. This work is being led by Dr Ayfer Bartu and Idil Eser. The ESHF will work with local school teachers and children in the Konya area to develop a series of educational materials relating to the site. These will be piloted at Çatalhöyük and evaluated. It is hoped that the educational programme will result in more visits to the site and encourage the inclusion of prehistory in the teaching curriculum.

In July 2002, Çatalhöyük was the location for the first training workshop organised as part of the Temper project. A key aim of Temper is to provide training opportunities disseminating best practice in heritage management and interpretation. The on-site workshop held at Çatalhöyük was the first of these. The three-day workshop provided an introduction to management plans. Participants were able to visit the excavation areas and use Çatalhöyük as an example to think through management issues such as conservation needs and visitor management. The workshop was aimed at Greek and Turkish participants of the Temper project - those who are about to embark on the development of management plans for Çatalhöyük and Paliambela. A number of archaeologists working for the Catalhoyuk Research Project also attended the workshop. A second on-site training workshop is scheduled to take place in Malta in 2003 for the Maltese and Israelis participants on the Temper project.

 

Future work and information on the Temper project

Over the next twelve months, work will be taking place at each of the five sites to develop management plans and educational programmes that reflect the significance and value of prehistoric sites as well as tackling the issues and challenges. During the course of the project, the Temper website (www.temper-euromed.org) will chart this work and provide information on forthcoming training workshops and seminars. In addition to the international conference planned as the culmination of the project, there will be seminars on the management and interpretation of prehistoric sites. These will be open to anyone interested in heritage management and presentation. The Temper newsletter will also provide updates of the project's progress.

If you would like any further information on the Temper project please visit the website: www.temper-euromed.org or contact the Temper project manager, Louise Doughty, at LJD1003@cam.ac.uk . To comment on the consultation draft of the management plan for Çatalhöyük please visit the Çatalhöyük website: www.catalhoyuk.com from January 2002 onwards and send your comments to the Temper project manager.

 

[1] Hodder, I (1996) On the Surface: Çatalhöyük 1993-1995, pg. 1

 

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© Çatalhöyük Research Project and individual authors, 2002