All field work activities and accommodations are based at Kaymakçı, located on the outskirts of the village of Hacıveliler (district of Gölmarmara, province of Manisa) and overlooking Lake Marmara (the ancient Gygaean Lake). In order to get there, please use Google Maps (or something equivalent) to find your way to these coordinates: 38.634656, 27.922301. The comments below assume you will be traveling via ground transportation from points within Türkiye.
Getting from İstanbul to Hacıveliler by Bus #
From the airport or from within the city, take a bus (Havaş is the cheapest) or taxi to the main bus garage (otogar). From there, find and get on a bus for Salihli. The Güven Bus Line is a highly recommended option because it runs directly past Hacıveliler on the Akhisar-Salihli highway (D555). When you purchase your ticket and/or board the bus, ask the driver to drop you at Hacıveliler. If you are not allowed to get off at Hacıveliler, follow the directions below from Salihli.
Getting from İzmir to Salihli by Bus #
From the airport or from within the city, take a bus (Havaş is the cheapest at around TL10) or a taxi to the main bus garage (otogar). From there, find and get on a bus for Salihli (c. 15TL). The Güven Bus Line is one of the only lines that has a direct route.
Alternatively, take a taxi from İzmir to Salihli (or directly to Hacıveliler). The taxi should have a fixed fee (not metered) that you should confirm before starting. This could cost upwards of ~$150–$200.
Getting from Salihli to Hacıveliler by Bus #
The options below presume that you will be arriving on a bus (or taxi) from İzmir on the İzmir–Ankara highway (E96).
- Take a bus to Salihli and get off at the bus station.
- At the Salihli bus station, find and get on a bus that goes to Gölmarmara or Akhisar (usually on the side of the station opposite (to the east of) that on which you arrived); tell them you are going to Hacıveliler. Get off the bus after about 25–30 minutes along the D555 highway at the village of Hacıveliler (the bus will continue towards Gölmarmara and Akhisar).
- The bus will take the D555 highway. If you are in a taxi or driving yourself, follow signs for Gölmarmara. Enjoy your introduction to Bin Tepe on the way to Hacıveliler! It is a breathtaking landscape.
- After you pass through Bin Tepe, you will continue through the Büyükbelen plain, past the exit for Saruhanlı on your left, beneath the Kaymakçı ridge (on your left), and the turn off for Kaymakçı (on your left). This should be about a 25–30 minute ride from Salihli. Get off at Hacıveliler and *very carefully* cross the road to the Hacıveliler village square.
- Make your way to one of the tea houses / kahves in the Hacıveliler village square.
- Call or text Tunç Kaner (Assistant Director: +90-507-611-6009), Yaşar Erefe (guard: +90-541-717-8274), or Chris (+90-531-273-7403; +90-545-670-6889). If you do not have a phone or texting opportunities, you can say (or show) the following to someone:
- “Ben Kaymakçı’da çalışıyorum. Lütfen, Kazı Evi yada Chris Bey’e telefon edebilir misiniz? Cep numarası şu dur: 0-531-273-7403.” [Translation: “I am working at Kaymakçı. Can you please call the excavation house or Chris? His mobile number is 0-531-273-7403.”]
- If Chris doesn’t answer, try him at 0-545-670-6889, or try Tunç or Yaşar at one of the numbers above.