Ancient Sculpture · Olympos
Hephaistos and the religious landscape of Olympos
A study of a seated male cult image identified through sculptural fragments, iconography and the wider religious setting of the city.
Assistant Professor of Archaeology
Halil Mert
Erdoğan
Exploring the human past through archaeology.
Biography
Exploring the human past through archaeology, architecture and material culture.
Halil Mert Erdoğan is an Assistant Professor of Archaeology and Deputy Director of the Olympos Excavations. For the past nine years, he has taught archaeology and architectural documentation at university level while actively participating in archaeological fieldwork across Türkiye.
His field experience includes four excavation seasons at Rhodiapolis, three years with the Beydağları Survey Project, eight years as a member of the scientific committee of the Xanthos Excavations, and ongoing survey research at Prokonnesos. He currently continues his work as Deputy Director of the Olympos Excavations, where his research focuses on ancient architecture, sculpture, religious practices and the interpretation of archaeological evidence.
His academic interests centre on the archaeology of Lycia and Anatolia, with particular emphasis on architectural documentation, material culture, archaeological interpretation and cultural heritage. His research combines long-term fieldwork with architectural analysis, digital documentation and scholarly publication.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork at Xanthos
Close observation, architectural recording and interpretation begin at the monument itself. Fieldwork remains central to the way archaeological questions are formed and tested.
Olympos
Landscape, settlement and the archaeology of place.
Research
Selected research themes and archaeological materials
Cult Image · Architectural Context
Reconstructing Zeus Olympios
Fragment-based reconstruction brings together sculpture, temple architecture and archaeological context to reconsider the monumental cult image of Olympos.
Ancient Architecture
Reading masonry as archaeological evidence
Construction techniques, wall fabrics and architectural relationships preserve evidence for chronology, planning and changing use.
Publications
Selected work
Reconstructing the Cult Image of Zeus Olympios at Olympos
Oxford Journal of Archaeology
Architectural and Archaeological Research in Lycia
OLBA
New Evaluations on the Archaeology of Olympos
Adalya
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