Tomris Bakır (5 November 1941 - 25 February 2020) was a classical archaeologist from Turkey, who specialised in ceramics, and was the Director of Excavations at Daskyleion.
Biography
Tomris Akbaşoğlu was born on 5 November 1941.[1] She studied at Ankara University, where she obtained her undergraduate degree.[2] She was awarded a doctoral degree at the Archaeological Institute of Heidelberg University, doctoral advisor was Roland Hampe.[3] She was married to the archaeologist Güven Bakır (de).[4]
From 1977, after returning to Turkey, Bakır taught as Assistant Professor at Ataturk University in Erzurum.[2] In 1988 she was appointed Professor at Ege University in Izmir, where she worked until her retirement in 2010.[2] From 1988 to 2010 she was the Director of the Excavations in Daskyleion.[5] In particular, Bakır's excavations focused on the residence of the Persian satrap at the site.[6] During her time running excavations at the site, a building interpreted as a Zoroastrian temple was excavated.[7] Significant finds that were excavated from other site contexts under her directorship, included: two seals and one bulla;[8] imported amphoras;[9] as well as many sherds of pottery.[7] She was instrumental in the foundation of Bandırma Archaeology Museum in 2003.[5] In addition, she was an internationally respected researcher: she was a member of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), as well as other organisations.[5]
Bakır died on 25 February 2020 and her body was interred at Yakaköy Cemetery on 26 February, following prayer at Güven Mosque.[5][2]
Reception
Bakır's work on Corinthian column-kraters, Der Kolonnettenkrater in Korinth und Attika, was described as a "methodical and painstaking examination" of the pottery.[10] At her death, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism described her as an "esteemed teacher, who introduced Daskyleion Ancient City to the world [and] opened new horizons in Turkish Archaeology".[11]
Selected publications
Der Kolonnettenkrater in Korinth und Attika zwischen 625 und 550 v. Chr (Triltsch, Würzburg 1974).[12]
Korinth seramiğinde aslan figürünün gelişimi (Ege Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi, Izmir 1982).[13]
'Archäologische Beobachtungen über die Residenz in Daskyleion',Pallas. Revue d’études antiques (1995).[14]
Herausgeberin mit Heleen Sancisi-Weerdenburg: Achaemenid Anatolia. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Anatolia in the Achaemenid Period, Bandirma, 15–18 August 1997 (Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, Leiden 2001).[15]
Daskyleion (Balıkesir Valiliği, Balıkesir 2011).[16]
References
^Totentafel in Türk Eskiçağ Bilimleri Enstitüsü Haberler 45, 2019/20 (Digitalisat).