Bilkent University has taken over the management of the Sagalassos excavations in Burdur, which had been led by KU Leuven for 35 years. The Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project, a leading interdisciplinary initiative, aims to further its exploration of the ancient city of Sagalassos in southwest Türkiye. Nestled in the Taurus Mountains near Ağlasun, Sagalassos thrived as a major center in the Pisidia region during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, reaching its peak in the Roman Imperial era (1st–3rd centuries CE).
Founded in the 1980s by Belgian archaeologist Prof. Marc Waelkens of KU Leuven, the project has grown into a model for multidisciplinary research. Led by Asst. Prof. Peter Talloen, chair of Bilkent’s Department of Archaeology, it brings together experts from Bilkent, KU Leuven, Koç University and Brussels University, along with international specialists. The team is dedicated to uncovering Sagalassos’ rich history, preserving its monuments and studying its environmental and cultural context.