Müge Durusu-Tanrıöver is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art History at Temple University's Tyler School of Art. She specializes in the archaeologies, landscapes, and arts of the eastern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on hybrid material practices created on the borderlands of Bronze and Iron Age empires. Dr. Durusu-Tanrıöver earned her PhD from Brown University in 2016, following an MA (2010) and BFA (2006) from Bilkent University. Her academic trajectory demonstrates a strong foundation in both art history and archaeology, with a specific concentration on ancient Anatolia and the Hittite Empire. Her research centers on the Hittite Empire, examining imperial strategies visible in material culture and artistic production, as well as regional responses to Hittite imperialism. As an active field archaeologist, she has directed the Polatlı Landscape Archaeology and Survey Project (PLAS) since 2019, which has received funding from prestigious organizations including the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) and the American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR). Dr. Durusu-Tanrıöver's scholarly work spans landscape archaeology, Hittite studies, Anatolian archaeology, and digital documentation methods. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding ancient empires through their material expressions in borderland regions, with particular attention to how environmental factors and local traditions shaped imperial experiences. Her research also addresses contemporary issues including the Anthropocene and the impact of modern development on ancient landscapes. ASOR Charles Harris Project Grant (for PLAS 2023 Field Season) Archaeological Institute of America Richard C. MacDonald Iliad Endowment for Archaeological Research (2021) Suna & İnan Kıraç Research Center for Mediterranean Civilizations (AKMED) Project Support Program (2019) ARIT Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (2015) Fulbright Foreign Student Program for Doctoral Degree (2010) As a dedicated educator and researcher, Dr. Durusu-Tanrıöver maintains active fieldwork programs while contributing to both academic discourse and public understanding of ancient civilizations. Her work bridges traditional archaeological methods with innovative digital approaches, as evidenced by her research on Reflectance Transformation Imaging applications in challenging field conditions. She has also explored the ethical dimensions of archaeology in conflict zones and the role of archaeologists in contemporary political landscapes.











