Mapping Gordion

Six decades of archaeological investigation at Gordion have provided a wealth of information about ancient Anatolia, in particular regarding the Early and Middle Phrygian periods. However, with the ambitious scale of the project have come major challenges, chief among which is the recording of the spatial layout of the excavated remains: the mapping of Gordion. The lack of accurate spatial representations of the site has consistently hindered the analysis and publication of the excavated material. A complete site map combining all excavated data was never produced, and little of the ancient architecture could be precisely located in a site–wide coordinate system. Consequently, the key data could not be located spatially with acceptable accuracy, either in absolute terms or relative to each other. The existence of specific problems associated with the mapping had long been known, and indeed some of the surveyors responsible for the maps and plans attempted remedies over the years, but no definitive solutions were ever found. The present chapter documents our research into the history of mapping at Gordion, outlines our understanding of the problems, and presents the strategy we have developed for rectifying the situation.