A Conservation Management Plan for Gordion and its Environs

A Conservation Management Plan for Gordion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey, reveals significant risks to its archaeological integrity, particularly from deep ploughing by local farmers. This multidisciplinary effort, involving the University of Pennsylvania and Middle East Technical University, surveyed 140 km² around Gordion, including villages, historic sites, settlement mounds (höyüks), and burial mounds (tumuli). The study documented public and private buildings using standardized forms and photographs, reassessing the site's values and proposing an action plan to mitigate damage. A key focus was raising awareness among local stakeholders about the destructive impact of agricultural practices on tumuli, ensuring long-term preservation.

Erder, E. H., Gürsan-Salzmann, A., & Miller, N. F. (2013). A Conservation Management Plan for Gordion and its Environs. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 15(3-4), 329–347. https://doi.org/10.1179/1350503314z.00000000065