Tucked away on the western coast of Turkey overlooking the Aegean Sea, lies the ruins of an ancient city steeped in history. The city of Notion, which was inhabited from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD, is mentioned by such notable ancient authors as Aristotle, Livy, and Pausanias, among others.

For over 20 years, the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan has been involved in the study of Notion. But what happens when an ancient site needs modern amenities—like research facilities, housing for visiting scholars, and public-facing interpretation? Cue an unlikely collaboration between an archaeologist and an architect.

This month Dr. Chris Ratté, Director of the Notion Archaeological Project, will be discussing his research as well as the relationships the archaeological team has formed with the surrounding communities. Kathy Velikov, Professor of Architecture at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, will share how Taubman is contributing to building ethical, culturally competent, sustainable, and climate resilient infrastructure at Notion that supports the archaeological mission.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6:00 p.m.

Seating is limited—come early.

UMMNH would like to thank Conor O’Neill’s for 15+ years of support for our Science Cafés.