In the VIth Turkish History Congress Akurgal, who presented a paper on the excavations at Foça, stated: “The excavation of this ancient Ionian city, an important desideratum of archaeological literature, has provided important results for the pottery of the Hellene Archaic Period and for the Ionic architectural order”1 . Here Akurgal wished to emphasize that Phokaia was an important object of desire in archaeological literature. Again, years later, when we again took in hand the excavations of Phokaia, Akurgal said: “Phokaia has a truly enchanting natural setting; not only was it the most charming and magical city of antiquity, it was the most beautiful one as well” 2.

Archaeological excavations at Foça were begun by Felix Sartiaux, who made soundings here in the years 1913, 1914 and 1920. All these exploratory digs coincided with the war years; for this reason Sartiaux was unable to do long-term work at Foça. For a long period after the 1920’s no scientific excavations were done here. After 32 years had passed excavations at Foça were again on the agenda. Akurgal first went to Foça in 1948, when he began the Bayraklı excavations, and he immensely admired the natural beauty of the place. In 1951 he interrupted the excavations at Bayraklı.Akurgal and the General Director of Museums, Dr. Cahit Kınay, together prepared a plan. The carrying out of systematic work was planned for the clarification, in western Anatolia, of the material relevant to cultures  1 Akurgal 1967,76. 2 Özyiğit 1998b, The preface and the back cover. contemporary with the Troy I – VI strata, to traces of the most ancient Thracian tribes in Anatolia, to the Greek colonization, and also with the aim of identifying the remains belonging to the Aeolian and Ionian civilizations.