James Mellaart British archaeologist Date of Birth: 14.11.1925 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of James Mellaart
2. Early Life and Career
3. Scandals and Controversies
4. Contributions to Archaeology

Biography of James Mellaart

James Mellaart was a British archaeologist who gained fame as an explorer of Neolithic settlements in Turkey, particularly Catalhoyuk and Hacilar. However, a series of scandals, including accusations of involvement in the black market antiquities trade, led to a ban on further excavations in Turkey in the 1960s. In 2005, Mellaart retired from his professorship and lived in North London with his wife.

Early Life and Career

James Mellaart was born in London and taught at Istanbul University. He also served as the Assistant Director of the British Institute of Archaeology in Ankara. From 1951, he led excavations of several archaeological sites in Turkey, alongside his wife, Arlette, who was born in Turkey. Mellaart's contributions include the identification of "champagne glass" pottery in western Anatolia, dating to the Late Bronze Age, which eventually led to the discovery of Beycesultan in 1954. After completing the expedition in 1959, he participated in the publication of its findings. In 1964, Mellaart began lecturing on archaeology in Ankara.

Scandals and Controversies

In 1958, Mellaart informed Seton Lloyd of the British Institute of Archaeology in Ankara about new, rich findings in Dorak. According to Mellaart, he had discovered these artifacts six years earlier but had been unable to obtain permission to publish them. When this news was published in The Illustrated London News, Turkish authorities wanted to know why they had not been informed and where the artifacts had been discovered. Mellaart claimed to have seen the treasures in the house of a young woman he had met in Izmir. The woman, named Anna Papastrari, allegedly did not allow him to photograph the objects but allowed him to make sketches. It turned out that her name was unknown in Izmir, and her address was false. As a result, Turkish authorities revoked Mellaart's visa due to suspicion of smuggling antiquities. Later on, Mellaart was allowed to return to the country.

Contributions to Archaeology

Mellaart's team, which excavated Catalhoyuk in 1961, discovered more than 150 rooms and buildings, some adorned with wall paintings, reliefs, and sculptures. This was an important monument that significantly advanced knowledge of early settlements in the Near East. Mellaart believed that Catalhoyuk played a significant role in the cult of the mother goddess. However, many other archaeologists disagreed and even accused Mellaart of fabricating local myths to support his theory. Due to the resulting scandal, Turkish authorities closed access to the site, and excavations resumed only in the 1990s.