TUNA AKÇAY

Assoc. Prof. Tuna Akçay serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Tourism Guidance at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University's Faculty of Tourism since 2022, following his Lecturer position at Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University's Department of Archaeology (2012-2022). His academic foundation spans Classical Archaeology with specialization in Anatolian sites, particularly the ancient city of Olba in Cilicia.

His educational credentials include:

• Licence in Archaeology from Mersin University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2000-2005)
• Master's degree in Archaeology (with thesis) from Mersin University, Institute of Social Sciences (2005-2008)
• Doctorate in Archaeology from Gazi University, Institute of Social Sciences (2011-2016)

Dr. Akçay's research concentrates on Greek/Roman periods, Hellenistic archaeology, funerary practices, ceramic analysis, and numismatics. His work integrates excavation data with anthropological analysis to reconstruct cultural practices in ancient Cilicia, with particular emphasis on burial customs, tomb typology, and religious rituals evidenced through material culture. He examines how ceramic typologies and coin distributions illuminate socio-political transitions across Hellenistic and Roman periods.

His publication record reveals consistent thematic focus on Olba's archaeology, with recurring examination of burial customs (cremation practices, tomb typology), ceramic analysis (terra sigillata, period-specific ceramics), and numismatic evidence. Methodologically, his work combines excavation reports, skeletal analysis, and religious studies to address cultural continuity and change, demonstrating increasing interdisciplinary integration from 2008-2019.

Dr. Akçay actively directs major archaeological projects including the Hadrianapolis excavations (2022-2024), Olba excavations (ongoing since 2001 with recent seasons in 2018-2019), Tarsus District Hinterland Survey (2017-2018), and Byzantine Settlements project around Alacadağ (2018). He led the Olba Coin Cleaning project (2017) preserving hundreds of coins critical for understanding regional chronology. As academic editor for journals like 'Seleucia' and book series with Kabalcı Yayınevi, he contributes significantly to scholarly dissemination in Anatolian archaeology.

He participates in the Anatolian Photography Association, documenting archaeological contexts through award-winning photography, though this remains distinct from scientific recognition.