| 1 | Name: | Professor Halet Çambel | |
| Institution: | Istanbul University | ||
| Year Elected: | 1979 | ||
| Class: | 4. Humanities | ||
| Subdivision: | 401. Archaeology | ||
| Residency: | International | ||
| Living? : | Deceased | ||
| Birth Date: | 1916 | ||
| Death Date: | January 12, 2014 | ||
An eminent scholar and expert in the archaeology of the Anatolian Peninsula, Halet Çambel was born in Germany in 1916. The daughter of an old and distinguished Ottoman family, she received her Ph.D. from Istanbul University in 1945 and went on to found the chair of prehistoric archaeology at Istanbul University, where she taught and inspired generations of students. Renowned for conducting rescue excavations of endangered heritage sites, Dr. Çambel introduced stone restoration techniques and ensured proper conservation of significant cultural heritage in Turkey. She was instrumental in protecting a village of unique Turkish houses and opened an Art and Culture House where concerts, exhibitions and other cultural activities take place. Halet Çambel's meticulous scholarship, commitment to international collaboration and enthusiasm for innovative research are praised both in Turkey and in the wider international community. Her numerous publications, television programs, documentaries, and the first open-air museum of antiquities at the Karatepe-Aslanta site are among her contributions to knowledge of and accessibility to the civilizations and historical riches of Turkey. Among Dr. Çambel's many awards is the Prince Claus Award honoring her dedicated scholarship and her role in expanding the possibilities for interaction between people and their cultural heritage. Halet Çambel died January 12, 2014, at the age of 97 at her home in Instanbul. | |||