Coastal landscapes and conservation issues: Antalya- Phaselis

Phaselis is an antique settlement situated on the Mediterranean coasts of Turkey on the way to Antalya coastal highway, 35 km. far from Antalya. It was one of the most important antique cities of Pamphylia founded over a peninsula that narrowed into bays to the north and south. Phaselis was a city of natural harbors founded by the colonists from Rhodes in the 6th century B.C. It had three harbors one on the north, one on the northeast and one on the southwest side of the peninsula. Phaselis is an archeological site near the Mediterranean coast and the ruins of the city are partially under the sea and partially covered with vegetation that can be considered among the most picturesque ancient remains of Turkey. The buildings still visible on the site are mainly concentrated on the neck of the peninsula between the north eastern and south western harbors. Historic archeological sources above and below the ground and sea level are important cultural heritages that has to be transferred to future generations as the evidences of past cultures. Coastal landscape quality of Mediterranean Region of Turkey is very rich. There are numerous significant resources as rare survivors of archeological sites reflecting the cultural traditions and patterns of settlements having local, regional and national importance. So, archeological resources must be protected and preserved in place in order to protect the original characters of the historic sites and their near environs. So, the conservation of archeological sites under the sea and the coastal areas should be held more sensitively. In this article, Phaselis antique settlement which is a unique and distinguished example in the Mediterranean coasts of Turkey was presented with its natural and cultural values. Then, the concepts of coastal archeology, coastal landscapes and their conservation issues were discussed and at the final stage, the problems and potentials of Phaselis archeological site were evaluated. Besides, conservation issues of coastal archeological sites were discussed with special reference to Phaselis.