The Return of Anatolian Artifacts to Turkish Museums

As a Fulbright Research Fellow in Turkey, I studied the reception and display of recently repatriated artifacts in Turkish museums. While international news outlets sensationalize artifact returns, little attention is given to what happens after repatriation. During my fellowship, I documented the temporary display of repatriated artifacts at archaeological museums in Antalya and Istanbul. The 

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I met and interviewed students, professors, and professionals in the fields of design, archaeology, cultural heritage, and museum studies, learning their thoughts about the future of repatriation in Turkey. 

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Diving into the world of speculative design, my "Ancient Objects: Future Tools" workshop series educated students about a recently repatriated silver drinking horn in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Students from Yeditepe University designed timeline infographics about the artifact, extending their designs to the near and distant future.