Professions

Ekrem Akurgal (March 30, 1911 – November 1, 2002) was a prominent and internationally famous Turkish archaeologist. During a career that spanned more than fifty years, he conducted definitive research in several sites along the western coast of Anatolia such as Phokaia (Foça), Pitane (Çandarlý), Erythrai (Ildýrý) and old Smyrna (Bayraklý höyük, the original site of the city of Smyrna before the city’s move to another spot across the Gulf of Ýzmir). A polyglot, he also had a star quality that eased relations beyond Turkey’s borders, for the benefit of the image of the country that he represented with skill.

In 1957, he became a professor in University of Ankara. He worked mainly in the Aegean Region, starting the researches on Phokaia (Foça), Pitane (Çandarlý), Erythrai (Ildýrý) and old Smyrna (Bayraklý tumulus). He published numerous books on ancient Greek, Hittite and other ancient civilizations of Anatolia.