Public archaeology, in its simplest sense, is an attempt to understand the already existing relationship between archaeology and the public. Based on such an understanding, activities that aim at strengthening this relationship can also be created.

The basic components of this relationship can be found in questions such as: in what ways are archaeological assets part of people’s daily lives, what meanings do they embody, what kind of uses do they have, and which are the difficulties they cause?

A well-established public archaeology approach requires a challenging stance towards stereotypical statements and generalizations made about society’s understanding of archaeology.

What is protected and presented under the umbrella of archaeology and cultural heritage, who benefits from this protection and interpretation, and who is left out are at the heart of inquiries.

Following the conceptualization offered by Matsuda in the critical approach to public archaeology, the ultimate aim is to make the modern world more just and equitable through archaeology.

We are considering this aim within the scope of the Phoenix Public Archaeology Project. We strive to do a multi-layered reading of the impact of this archaeological site located near Taşlıca and Söğüt villages on the communities, and to create room for this reading to feed and transform the whole project.