The Restoration of the Seddülbahir Fortress on the Gallipoli Peninsula

The paper presents the challenges of the documentation, restoration, and reuse phases at Seddülbahir since the inception of the project in 1997. Due to the university-based collaboration of more than two decades, the work at Seddülbahir prioritized interdisciplinary research and the participation of several stakeholders including government ministries, academic institutions, and the local community. A guiding concept in the project was that evidence of all phases of the fortress, from the 17th century walls, to the early 20th century structures, was preserved and interpreted as essential parts of Seddülbahir’s past. Providing for contemporary re-usage needs at the site, while preserving the evidence of the destruction embedded in the ruins of the Seddülbahir fortress were also challenges, which required carefully balanced solutions. For a quarter of a century, the project has continuously experimented with emerging digital technologies such as 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry and geographical information systems (GIS). Research about the history of the site went beyond collecting archival and material evidence to include oral histories and analyses of the sensorial aspects of the site’s past, such as scent. The archaeological excavations conducted at Seddülbahir have helped to develop methodologies for Ottoman archaeology and WWI battlefield sites in Türkiye, and pointed out the need for new policies and procedures related to the treatment of archaeological human remains in this country. Finally, this paper discusses the intentions of the team to increase engagement with the local community at Seddülbahir, improve sustainability, and minimize the impact of climate change at the fortress.