Ephesos Archaeological Site
Our Work at the Ephesos Archaeological Site
Dating back to 6000 B.C., Ephesos was a major Ionian city famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders. Later a thriving Roman commercial center, it declined due to silted harbors before rediscovery in the 19th and 20th centuries reignited global interest in its rich heritage.
2004 World Monuments Watch
The vast archaeological site of Ephesos and its adjacent historical and cultural artifacts face several protection, management, and administrative challenges. The great success of Ephesos as a tourism destination has placed parts of the archaeological site under great stress. In 2000, interest in nominating Ephesos as a World Heritage Site brought to light the need to create a management plan for the site that would address ongoing maintenance of the site, continuing research and conservation needs, tourism management and site interpretation. Ephesos Archaeological Site was included on the 2004 World Monuments Watch in further recognition of the tourism management needs of the site. WMF supported the development of a management and conservation plan for the site and its environment. The project included a feasibility study focusing on the classical remains that form the core area of tourist interest at Ephesos. WMF’s work assisted the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities with identifying specific areas within the site that required additional protection. Site managers continue to struggle with balancing the needs of excavators, researchers, conservators, and tourists.
Ephesos is one of the largest and best-preserved cities from the classical period and is one of the leading archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The numerous cultural, historical, artistic, and natural assets of the site vividly illustrate the region’s complex history. Ephesos hosts an impressive variety of archaeological ruins that narrate the main cultural periods of Anatolia and provide insight into everyday life in the ancient city. Through the implementation of a proper management plan, Ephesos could utilize its existing resources to achieve a coherent balance between the needs of both archaeologists and tourists without compromising its historical integrity.
