Archaeology, as viewed by the “Other.” New From Left Coast Press, Inc.. A 15% discount on web orders at www.LCoastPress.com.
Protecting Çatalhöyük: Memoir of an Archaeological Site Guard
Sadrettin Dural, with contributions by Ian Hodder
Published January 2007, 160 pages, $29.95 paperback
Written by the narrator, Sadrettin Dural, a guard at the well-known Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, this is not just the tale of the protection of an archaeological site. In his book, he tells the story of the excavation from the point of view of the “Other,” his ethnography of his time at Çatalhöyük. Delightfully written in the first person, Dural provides stories of the strange habits of archaeologists, describes the local in-fighting that scholars never see, discusses the visitors to the site, as well as describes incidents of attempted looting and his response to such incidents. He also explains how scientists can be protected from the Yatırs, spirits of the dead who guard the mound. For the archaeologist, this book provides a perspective on their work from the other side and shows the importance of including locals as partners in their projects. For the cultural anthropologist, Dural provides a rich emic description of rural Turkish life, one that can only be viewed from within the culture. His role as site guard is only a small part of his life. Dural recounts the daily lived experience of one man in a contemporary village, including stories about his past and his hopes for the future, changing economic strategies for supporting his family, his brushes with the law, trips to the beach and the city, and erotic moments found in Turkish phone sex.
Ian Hodder, director of the Çatalhöyük project, provides explanatory notes for the reader and an interview with the author, exploring indigenous interpretations of ancient sites and the archaeologists who excavate them.
" Sadrettin’s is not a success story. It does not chart the successful education and empowerment of one of those many that have for so long been overlooked at the edges, but actually at the center of archaeology. It could hardly be said that Sadrettin’s story charts the end of centuries of colonial archaeological manipulation and silencing. His story is at once amusing, uplifting, tragic and unending. But in providing us with his voice, Sadrettin has opened up new possibilities for dialogue. I have learned a lot from him in terms of how Çatalhöyük might be managed and interpreted, and in terms of how archaeologists might work with local communities. I hope that others too will gain from reading his words."
- From the Foreword by Ian Hodder
To order, visit our website at
http://www.lcoastpress.com/book.php?id=37
ISBN: 978-1-59874-049-3 (c), 978-1-59874-050-9 (p)
PRICE:
$29.95 (U.S.), $36.95 (Canadian), £17.99 (Paperback)
$65.00 (U.S.), $78.95 Canadian, £40.00 (Cloth)
For more information, contact Caryn Berg at archaeology@LCoastPress.com