CASS collaboration to document Gallipoli history

The ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences and the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi (ÇOMU) from Turkey signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the research collaboration already underway by both universities.

The MOU agreement was signed by Professor Toni Makkai (Dean and Director, CASS) and Professor Dr Ali Akdemir, (Rector, ÇOMU) on his visit to the Australian National University.  Professor Akdemir was joined in Australia by Dr Mehmet Fatih Yavuz (Head, History Department and Chair of the Turkish Australian Culture Centre, ÇOMU) and Associate Professor Dr Muhammet Erat (Turkish Australian Culture Centre and an expert on the Gallipoli campaign of 1915).

The MOU builds on the current research collaboration between CASS and ÇOMU on the history of the Gallipoli peninsula from antiquity to today.  The project recently won an Australian Research Council Grant which will allow the project members to undertake a research trip to Gallipoli in September, and further support has been requested for subsequent years.

The Gallipoli project will involve a high level of collaboration between Australian and Turkish academics, at the ANU, Melbourne University, La Trobe University, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi, and the University of Istanbul.  The aim of the project is to write a complete history of the Gallipoli peninsula from about 1200 BC to the present.  Led by Dr Peter Londey (ANU), the project will examine evidence for settlement patterns, population movements, ethnic composition and economic activity. 

Other critical project contributers include:

Dr Mehdi Ilhan from the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies for his expertise as an Ottoman historian and his work with records in the Ottoman archives will be central to this work

Dr Mehmet Fatih Yavuz and Mr Körpe (Çanakkale), Professor Mustafa Sayar (Istanbul), and Dr Tamara Lewit (Melbourne) will provide expertise on the history and archaeology of the peninsula.

Professor Elizabeth Minchin (ANU School of Cultural Inquiry) will work with Professor Chris Mackie (La Trobe) on the history of Gallipoli in cultural memory, and lastly

Professor Joan Beaumont (CASS) will examine the commemorative history of the site since 1915.

Please visit the College of Arts and Social Science and the School of Cultural Inquiry for more news on the Gallipoli Peninsula project and other exciting projects.