Perihan Dönertaş

Biography

Perihan is an archaeologist for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Türkiye where she coordinates the planning and implementation of scientific archaeological excavations, research studies, and cultural asset protection initiatives. Perihan is responsible for 40 archaeological sites across the region and conducts evaluations and inspections in accordance with each site’s specific project objectives: creating action plans, allocating financial resources, and reporting on excavation activities to management.

Perihan specifically works on urban archaeological excavations and is interested in how cultural assets in ancient cities – often stratified through time and still inhabited – can be integrated into contemporary urban life. This includes assessing the adaptations and protective measures implemented to safeguard cultural heritage amid ongoing urban development, as well as examining emerging methods within the field. Her goal is to support the preservation of cultural memory within the context of urban living through sustainable conservation practices.

In 2023 Perihan was awarded her PhD from Ankara Gazi University, Faculty of Fine Arts. Her thesis was on the conservation, management and presentation of urban archaeological sites.

Perihan is also the editor of the journal Turkish Archaeology and Ethnography, an academic and artistic publication of the Ministry of Culture.

At the British Museum
During her time at the British Museum, Perihan was based in the Greece and Rome Department and her UK partner placement was spent at North East Museums.

Perihan’s participation in the International Training Programme was generously supported through general sponsorship.