Turkish archaeological center in Kırklareli progresses towards open-air museum status

The Trakya Research Center in Kırklareli's Ahmetçe village is rapidly transforming into an open-air archaeological museum. The project is spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan, a leading figure in Turkish prehistory, and co-directed by architect Doç. Dr. Zeynep Eres Özdoğan.

Recent visits by prominent archaeologists like Prof. Dr. Kenan Mortan and Nezih Başgelen highlight the intensive work underway. Prof. Dr. Özdoğan's Trakya Research Project, initiated in the 1980s, has unearthed crucial evidence detailing the region's millennia-old past and its role in the spread of agricultural societies into Europe. This research provides globally significant insights into the cultural connections between Anatolia and the Balkans.

The Kırklareli project is designed as an adaptable platform for current and future scientific endeavors. The Trakya Research Center, a restructured excavation house operating since 2003, is being developed to support diverse research needs. This initiative builds upon Atatürk's own archaeological investigations in Thrace, which began in 1936 but concluded in 1939. The current project, launched in 1979, has already documented over 1,600 sites, including burial mounds, megalithic structures, and ancient settlements, creating a comprehensive database of Thrace's cultural heritage.

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Kırklareli project, which was designed as an updatable project open to scientific studies to be carried out in the region and in the future.