Tahsin Özgüç
- December 17, 2005
- 89 years
About Tahsin Özgüç
Tahsin Özgüç, 89, Turkish archaeologist.
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Full Biography
|Tahsin Özgüç (1916–2005) was an eminent Turkish field archaeologist. The careers of Tahsin Özgüç and his wife, Nimet Özgüç, began after World War II and lasted for nearly 60 years. He was said to be the doyen of Anatolian archaeology.
Life
Tahsin Özgüç was born in Kardzhali, Bulgaria to Turkish parents. He was educated at the Faculty of Philology, History and Geography at Ankara University, graduating 1940. Following his doctorate in 1942, he married fellow archaeologist, Nimet Dinçer in 1944. At the same faculty, he became assistant between 1945 and 1946 and lecturer from 1946 to 1954, the year when he was appointed professor. Özgüç served as the dean of the faculty in the years 1968–1969. In the time between 1969 and 1980, he was rector of the same university. Following his retirement in 1981, he was five years long in charge of vice chairman of the High Education Council of Turkey.
Özgüç contributed much to Anatolian archaeology with his students, archaeological excavations and more than 100 scientific articles and books published. He lectured as guest professor from 1962 to 1964 at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, United States, in 1964 at the Saarland University and from 1975 to 1976 at LMU Munich, Germany. He and his wife Nimet, also a professor of archaeology at Ankara University, formed a remarkable team, dominating Turkish field archaeology and its university teaching. Ozgüç was the excavator of the famous site of Kültepe (Kayseri), ancient Kanesh, where his 57 years of continuous excavation produced sensational architectural artifacts and texts, revealing in extraordinary detail the first historical period of Anatolia, that of the Assyrian merchant colonies, about 2000–1700 BC. He also led excavations in Karahöyük Elbistan, Horoztepe (Tokat), Altıntepe (Erzincan), Maşathöyük, Kazankaya and Kululu.
Özgüç was member of several scientific institutions, such as Turkish Historical Institute, German Archaeological Institute, British Academy, American Archaeological Institute, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, City of London Archaeological Society and Institute of Archaeology in Turkey.
Tahsin Özgüç died on October 28, 2005, in Ankara. He was survived by his wife and their son. In 2010 following on from an award to his wife, a book, Cumhuriyetin Çocukları—Arkeolojinin Büyükleri: Nimet Özgüç – Tahsin Özgüç (The Children of the Republic—The Elders of Archaeology: Nimet Özgüç – Tahsin Özgüç) was published by Nursel Duruel. The book paid homage to the importance of the Özgüçs in establishing the field of archaeology in the country.
Awards
- 1978 Great Cross of Merit Order of the Federal Republic of Germany,
- 1990 Order of the Rising Sun gilt and silver (5th class), Japan
- 1991 Order of the Crown, Belgium
- 1992 Turkish Publicity Foundation Award
Honorary doctorates
- Free University of Berlin, Germany
- LMU Munich, Germany
- Ghent University, Belgium
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahsin_%C3%96zg%C3%BC%C3%A7
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Tahsin Özgüç's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was the archaeologist Tahsin Özgüç born?
- A.Kayseri
- B.Kardzhalicorrect
- C.Ankara
- D.Munich
Tahsin Özgüç was born in Kardzhali, Bulgaria to Turkish parents.
Source: Life section
2.In what year did Tahsin Özgüç graduate from Ankara University?
- A.1942
- B.1944
- C.1935
- D.1940correct
Tahsin Özgüç graduated from the Faculty of Philology, History and Geography at Ankara University in 1940.
Source: Life section
3.What is the name of the woman Tahsin Özgüç married in 1944?
- A.Ayşe Yılmaz
- B.Hilda Müller
- C.Nimet Dinçercorrect
- D.Nursel Duruel
Following his doctorate in 1942, Tahsin Özgüç married fellow archaeologist Nimet Dinçer in 1944.
Source: Life section
4.During which years did Tahsin Özgüç serve as the dean of his faculty?
- A.1968–1969correct
- B.1981–1986
- C.1945–1946
- D.1969–1980
Tahsin Özgüç served as the dean of the faculty in the years 1968–1969.
Source: Life section
5.At which institution did Tahsin Özgüç serve as a guest professor between 1962 and 1964?
- A.Saarland University
- B.Institute for Advanced Study, Princetoncorrect
- C.LMU Munich
- D.Ghent University
Tahsin Özgüç lectured as guest professor from 1962 to 1964 at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey.
Source: Life section
6.What famous ancient site was excavated by Tahsin Özgüç for 57 years?
- A.Kültepecorrect
- B.Karahöyük Elbistan
- C.Horoztepe
- D.Altıntepe
Tahsin Özgüç was the excavator of the famous site of Kültepe where his 57 years of excavation revealed the first historical period of Anatolia.
Source: Life section
7.The excavations at Kültepe by Tahsin Özgüç revealed details about which historical group?
- A.Roman merchants
- B.Assyrian merchant coloniescorrect
- C.Hittite empire builders
- D.Byzantine administration
Excavations at Kültepe revealed in detail the period of the Assyrian merchant colonies, about 2000–1700 BC.
Source: Life section
8.Which of these institutions counted Tahsin Özgüç as a member?
- A.British Academycorrect
- B.The Louvre Museum
- C.Tokyo National Museum
- D.Smithsonian Institution
Tahsin Özgüç was a member of several scientific institutions, including the British Academy.
Source: Life section
9.In what city did Tahsin Özgüç die on October 28, 2005?
- A.Sofia
- B.Istanbul
- C.Kayseri
- D.Ankaracorrect
Tahsin Özgüç died on October 28, 2005, in Ankara.
Source: Life section
10.What award was granted to Tahsin Özgüç in 1990?
- A.Order of the Crown
- B.Turkish Publicity Foundation Award
- C.Great Cross of Merit
- D.Order of the Rising Suncorrect
In 1990, Tahsin Özgüç received the Order of the Rising Sun gilt and silver (5th class) from Japan.
Source: Awards section
11.Which university granted an honorary doctorate to Tahsin Özgüç?
- A.Saarland University
- B.Ankara University
- C.Ghent Universitycorrect
- D.Princeton University
Among the institutions that granted honorary doctorates to Tahsin Özgüç was Ghent University in Belgium.
Source: Honorary doctorates section
12.Who authored the book titled 'Cumhuriyetin Çocukları—Arkeolojinin Büyükleri' which honored the Özgüçs?
- A.The Independent News
- B.Tahsin Özgüç
- C.Nimet Özgüç
- D.Nursel Duruelcorrect
In 2010, a book honoring the Özgüçs was published by Nursel Duruel.
Source: Life section
13.For how many years did the archaeological careers of Tahsin Özgüç and Nimet Özgüç last?
- A.Exactly 70 years
- B.Nearly 50 years
- C.Exactly 40 years
- D.Nearly 60 yearscorrect
The careers of Tahsin Özgüç and his wife, Nimet Özgüç, began after World War II and lasted for nearly 60 years.
Source: Life section
14.Following his retirement in 1981, what position did Tahsin Özgüç hold for five years?
- A.Dean of the Faculty
- B.Rector of the University
- C.Director of the Turkish Historical Institute
- D.Vice chairman of the High Education Councilcorrect
Following his retirement in 1981, Tahsin Özgüç was five years long in charge of vice chairman of the High Education Council of Turkey.
Source: Life section
15.Which of these sites is mentioned as an excavation site led by Tahsin Özgüç?
- A.Maşathöyükcorrect
- B.Hattusa
- C.Ephesus
- D.Troy
Tahsin Özgüç led excavations in Karahöyük Elbistan, Horoztepe, Altıntepe, Maşathöyük, Kazankaya and Kululu.
Source: Life section
16.What title was Tahsin Özgüç given in relation to Anatolian archaeology?
- A.Chief Archivist
- B.Senior Professor
- C.The Doyencorrect
- D.Founding Member
Tahsin Özgüç was said to be the doyen of Anatolian archaeology.
Source: Life section
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