British Institute at Ankara

The BIAA was founded on 22 November 1947 after proposals by the British archaeologist John Garstang, who became the Institute's first Director.[4] He was instrumental in choosing Ankara as the location of the new Institute, in contrast to similar existing organizations that were based in Istanbul. Other founding members included the archaeologist and museum curator Winifred Lamb, who served as honorary secretary from the organisation's foundation until 1956, whereupon she became Vice-President.[5] The Institute's journal, Anatolian Studies, was first published in 1951, becoming a key reference for all archaeology-related disciplines in the region.[6]

Seton Lloyd succeeded Garstang as Director in 1949, In 1961, Michael Gough became the Institute's third Director. He had a focus on the Byzantine period, with excavations at the church complex at Alahan and at Dağ Pazarı. James Mellaart, as assistant director from 1957 to 1961, started excavations at the site of Çatalhöyük, identifying it as a unique Neolithic settlement. David French became the institute's fourth director in 1968. In 1993 French retired and in 1995 Roger Mathews became the 5th Director. Hugh Elton, who was appointed as the Director in 2001, changed the name of the British Institute of Archaeology to British Institute. The current Director is Lutgarde Vandeput, who became Director in 2006.[7] British archaeologist Shahina Farid is honorary secretary.[8]