Lost Harbors of
Lake Van:
Project Overview
An Integrated Archaeological,
Underwater and Paleoshoreline
Exploration Project
The Lost Harbors of Lake Van, is a 72-month interdisciplinary research program dedicated to identifying, evaluating, documenting, and interpreting known, reported, and potential harbor and landing locations surrounding Lake Van. The program brings together archaeological research, coastal and landscape survey, GIS and spatial analysis, remote sensing, paleoshoreline reconstruction, hydrographic and geophysical methods, underwater investigation and documentation, photogrammetry, 3D recording, laboratory analysis, and public-facing science communication.
The project does not assume that every reported or identified location represents an ancient harbor. Instead, candidate locations will be systematically classified according to their archaeological, environmental, geographic, and historical evidence. Each site will be progressively evaluated through documentary and archival research, landscape and spatial analysis, field verification, and—where legally authorized and scientifically justified—underwater investigation and geophysical assessment. This evidence-based approach is intended to distinguish confirmed harbor features from probable, possible, and unsubstantiated locations while contributing to a broader understanding of the changing maritime, environmental, and cultural landscapes of Lake Van, Türkiye.
PROJECT CONCEPT & SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT:
ÖMER TANYÜREK
Archaeologist · Lecturer
Scientific Director, Unearthed Legacy Foundation
Project Status:
Development, Fundraising & Permitting Phase
Duration:
72-months
Total Program Budget:
$2,000,000
Scope, Methods, and Field Program
This project combines systematic shoreline survey, geophysical remote sensing, and targeted archival research to generate a site-by-site understanding of harbor form, use, and preservation. Shoreline survey teams document structural remains, landing gradients, and visible midden and construction materials using standardized recording forms, high-resolution GPS, and drone photogrammetry. Remote sensing includes side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiling, and lakebed multibeam mapping where water depth and permitting allow, supplemented by terrestrial LiDAR and orthophotography for exposed features. Archival research draws on Ottoman-era cadastral maps, Armenian and Kurdish local sources, maritime registers, and nineteenth-century travel accounts to refine site chronologies and function. Each field season deploys archaeologists, geophysicists, maritime historians, conservators, GIS specialists, and local liaisons; results are integrated in a central GIS for comparative analysis and public data release.
Community Collaboration and Ethical Practice
Community partnership is a core component of the program. The Foundation convenes local advisory groups, offers job opportunities for field technicians from surrounding towns, and runs bilingual workshops to share methods and preliminary findings. Consent and co-curation guide decisions about excavation, documentation, and the dissemination of sensitive information. This project seeks reciprocal benefit: training and resources for local heritage professionals, collaborative conservation priorities determined with municipal and regional stakeholders, and accessible interpretive materials for community museums and schools.
Conservation Plans, Compliance, and Open Data
For each assessed harbor or landing site this project produces a condition assessment and a prioritized conservation plan that addresses structural stabilization, in situ preservation, and long-term monitoring. Conservation recommendations are developed in consultation with Turkish cultural heritage authorities and follow applicable national permitting and export regulations. All spatial datasets, orthophotos, and 3D models created by the project are prepared for open release in common formats (GIS shapefiles, GeoTIFFs, OBJ/PLY models) with clear metadata and licensing to enable reuse by researchers, heritage managers, and community partners.
Scholarly Outputs and Access to Findings
This project produces a sustained program of scholarly outputs including site reports, thematic articles on harbor technology and coastal change, and conference presentations. Final reports and primary datasets will be deposited in open repositories and summarized through an interactive project portal maintained by the Unearthed Legacy Foundation. Project findings inform regional heritage management plans and are accompanied by practical resources—conservation specifications, monitoring protocols, and educational materials—made available to municipal authorities and partner organizations.
Lake Van (Van Gölü)
