Archaeological Surveys of the Protohistoric Period in Trabzon (TYAP) was initiated in 2018 by our department faculty member, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya ÇALIŞKAN AKGÜL, with the aim of illuminating the history of Trabzon province based on concrete archaeological data, focusing on the pre-Classical era, and filling chronological gaps in the region. The survey, conducted with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and logistical support from our university, covered a wide geography from the city center of Trabzon to the rural areas of the districts. Many previously unknown archaeological locations were identified and recorded.

The results of the five years of work revealed that human presence in Trabzon dates back much earlier than previously thought, with the earliest material culture remnants dating back to the Lower Paleolithic Age. Furthermore, the region was recognized as having significant potential for prehistoric periods based on the flint tools found in the identified caves. The data obtained from the surveys not only covered the Paleolithic Period but also exposed the archaeological infrastructure of Trabzon from the Early Iron Age to the Classical and Medieval periods.

The Archaeological Surveys of the Protohistoric Period in Trabzon, which concluded in 2023, has not only revealed many new pieces of information but has also paved the way for asking current questions about Trabzon archaeology. Therefore, in the coming years, more extensive archaeological studies are planned to be conducted in Trabzon.