3. Cilt - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

of up to c. 6.1 meters were recorded with the GPS-depth sounder. In order tocomplete the bathymetric survey in an accurate fashion, we will have to returnanother time when the grasses are less pervasive, probably before 15 April orafter 30 August, according to local information.V. FUTURE RESEARCH PLANSThe Central Lydia Archaeological Survey is a landscape archaeology projectthat aims to understand better the multi-purpose use of the landscape and shifts inthat use in response to environmental, socio-political, and economic changes. The2005 and 2006 seasons focused primarily on documenting sites of cultural activityin Bin Tepe and in areas to the west and north-northwest of the Gygaean Lake.With these two seasons behind us, we will continue extensive survey west of BinTepe, in the Büyükbelen Valley between the Çal and Gür Dağları, and to the northand east of the Gygaean Lake. In addition to extensive survey, we plan to beginintensive survey of selected transects across representative landscape types aswell as intensive survey of specifi c sites with high-accuracy GPS and geophysicalmethods. In addition to these archaeological survey aims, we plan to continueour programs of 1) environmental archaeological investigations with terrestrialin addition to lacustrine coring and soil sampling for core-sediment, chemical,palynological, and micromorphological analyses; 2) architectural recording oftumulus chamber-tomb complexes and preserved settlement features, especiallythose now known from the Middle to Late Bronze Age sites; 3) sampling of ceramicand other fi nds in addition to nearby stone quarries and stone tomb complexes foraddressing questions of ancient resource exploitation through chemical analyses;and 4) reassessment of tumulus conditions with respect to destruction caused bylooting, agricultural, and other practices. Finally, we plan to begin developing localeducational programs both to share our results with those living in the area and tounderstand better how local populations view and value the anicent landscapesof central Lydia.AcknowledgementsThe 2006 season could not have been conducted without the sponsorshipof Boston University, the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), andanonymous donors. Many thanks to these supporters in addition to survey team315