The disciplinary history of archaeology in Asia Minor has affected our understanding of its Prehistory in many respects. For this reason, considering the roots and development of the practice of archaeology in this territory is a central component of any synthesis of the prehistoric past. Here the general disciplinary history will be outlined, something that has often been lacking in synthetic studies on the archaeology of Asia Minor.

The Archaeology of Biblical and Classical Civilizations

Archaeological research has a long history in Asia Minor. Initially, much of the archaeological work that was done was inspired by what were conceived of as the twin roots of Western civilization: the biblical and classical worlds. Much of the earliest work consequently focussed on Hellenistic sites in the Aegean and Hittite sites in Central Anatolia to elucidate these worlds.