The holder of the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award, Prof. Dr. Fahri Işık, spoke about the traces of Anatolian civilizations at MAKÜ.

Prof. Dr. Fahri Işık, who led the establishment process of the Department of Archaeology at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) and played an important role in the initiation of the excavations at the Ancient City of Kibyra, came together with students and academics at the conference titled ‘Being in an Anatolia that Created Civilization’ held at MAKÜ.

Recognized for his contributions to Anatolian archaeology and awarded the 2025 Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award in the field of ‘Anatolian Archaeology’, Işık’s conference saw a high level of participation. The opening speech of the program was delivered by Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, who highlighted the university's efforts in the field of archaeology.

Rector Dalgar stated that the MAKÜ Department of Archaeology has carried out significant projects in terms of both scientific research and the preservation of cultural heritage, mentioning that the department is currently conducting three separate excavations in Burdur. He expressed that the recent initiation of the Hacılar Höyüğü excavation under the leadership of a faculty member within the university is one of the important indicators of this success.

Emphasizing the harmony between students and academics and the dedicated work in the field, Rector Dalgar noted that archaeological research not only provides academic success but also greatly contributes to Burdur's cultural tourism.

Rector Dalgar pointed out that Prof. Dr. Fahri Işık has played a significant role in the development of the MAKÜ Department of Archaeology, stating, “Under the leadership of our professor, our department has reached a stronger point today and is achieving significant successes.”

Speaking at the conference, Prof. Dr. Fahri Işık drew attention to the place of Anatolia in the history of world civilizations within the framework of the thesis ‘Civilization was Born in Anatolia’. Işık discussed the Anatolian sarcophagi, Lycia, and Western Anatolian civilizations, explaining the impact of Anatolia's thousands of years of cultural accumulation on the formation of Western civilization through archaeological findings and historical examples.

Işık also shared information about the Ancient City of Sagalassos, the Ancient City of Kibyra, and the Ancient City of Kremna, which are among the important ancient cities of Burdur, conveying the significance of the civilizations that lived in these cities in the history of Anatolia.

The conference concluded with Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar presenting a plaque of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Fahri Işık.