Overview
Explore the origins of agriculture and monumental ritual architecture at the Mendik archaeology field school in central Anatolia. Located near the Turkish city of Åžanlıurfa and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Göbekli Tepe, Mendik offers a rare chance to study one of the world’s earliest transitions from hunting and gathering to settled life—where early cultivation and religious institutions began. This immersive archaeology field school invites students to work alongside professionals in hands-on excavation, artifact analysis, and site survey rotations, gaining practical skills at a site linked to the earliest Neolithic communities. You’ll experience Turkey’s rich cultural landscape with program excursions to key Neolithic sites and Åžanlıurfa’s museums, gaining a firsthand understanding of cultural heritage preservation strategies from some of the region’s most important sites. Join IFR for a summer like no other in Turkey—the perfect field school for any aspiring archaeologist!
Field school highlights:
- Excavate the Mendik archaeological site to uncover early agricultural practices and monumental ritual architecture dating back over 10,000 years.
- Gain hands-on experience in excavation, artifact cataloging, and lab analysis, guided by experienced archaeologists.
- Visit the vibrant city of Şanlıurfa, with its captivating museums, monuments, and unique cuisine.
**Please note: this program has an early deadline to allow for the participants to receive necessary permits from local agencies. Permit delays could cause a shift to the program dates.
Course Details | |
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Course Dates | Aug. 18 – Sept.13, 2025 |
Course Type | Field Archaeology |
Instructors | Prof. Douglas Baird |
Credits* | TBD semester (TBD quarter) |
Deadline** | December 15 |
Fees Due By | May 15 |
Program Fees | (2025) |
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Tuition | $3,925 |
Transcript Fee* | $300 |
Health & Evacuation Insurance | $130 |
Room & Board | $950 |
TOTAL: | $5,305 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
**This program has an early deadline to allow for the permitting process.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Testimonials
This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
Our accommodation will be in a new dig house near the site. Students will share bedrooms. Laundry facilities are available.
The catering arrangements will involve prepared breakfast and dinner and a picnic lunch. Vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diets are catered for. The food is varied and nutritious but it will be thoroughly Turkish, which might not appeal to fussy eaters. It is, of course, halal.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
The closest city to the site with an airport is Şanlıurfa GAP airport; most flights route through Istanbul. Professor Baird will meet IFR students at that airport. Alternatively, one can fly to Istanbul and travel by bus but that is a long trip. Professor Baird will also meet people at the bust station, if required. You will be driven from the collection point to the accommodation in the dig vehicle.
If you missed your connection or your flight is delayed, please call, text or email the field school director immediately. A local emergency mobile phone number will be provided to all enrolled students.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
All personnel engaged in archaeological research in Turkey must be cleared by the authorities. Enrolled students will receive a special visa to attend the field school. All accepted students will be asked to complete official forms – those will be sent to students by Project Director – and all documents will be submitted as a group for approval to relevant Turkish authorities. Just before the program students will collect research visas from relevant local consulates, this will involve making suitable arrangements with those consulates for visa collection under guidance from Prof. Baird.
PASSPORT VALIDITY
The Turkish government require that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Turkey and that there is a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps.