PANEL ON “VIKING TRACES IN ISTANBUL AND THE BATHONEA ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS” HELD IN ISTANBUL

Coordinated by the TÜRSAB Cultural Tourism Specialization Department, a panel titled “Viking Traces in Istanbul and the Bathonea Archaeological Excavations” was held at TÜRSAB Central Office on Friday, April 17, 2026.

Moderated by the Cultural Tourism Specialization President Hakan Çokgezen, the panel featured Prof. Dr. Şengül Aydıngün, Director of the Bathonea Archaeological Excavations, and Selçuk Eracun, President of the Istanbul Guides Association (İRO) and researcher-writer, as speakers.

The event was attended by the Board Members Gürkan Özcan and Özgür Ildır Öksüz, the President of the Gastronomy Tourism Specialization Department M. Tümay İmamoğlu, the Vice President of the Cultural Tourism Specialization Committee İlker Horozcu, members of the Specialization Committee, and the President of the Financial and Corporate Functions Group Neslihan Örnek.

During the panel, the Bathonea excavation works shedding light on Istanbul’s early history and Viking traces in the region were discussed in detail. The event featured the sharing of numerous academic studies, ranging from runic inscriptions at Hagia Sophia to Scandinavian findings in Küçükçekmece, and evaluated the multifaceted relationship between cultural heritage and tourism.

The program, which drew significant interest from our travel agencies and guides, concluded following a question-and-answer session.

We would like to thank all our guests and members who participated in the event.