Digital Data Co-ordinator
Orhun holds a BA in Archaeology and an MA in Information Management. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in the Priene excavations and worked part-time as a librarian, which sparked his lasting interest in how heritage is documented, preserved, and accessed.
He contributed to the British Institute at Ankara (BIAA) as a digital archivist and to the Imagining Futures project as part of the digital repository team. His core work focuses on heritage data management, including data management plans, workflows, metadata schemas, and digital archiving. He is also interested in participatory heritage, DIY approaches to preservation, web development, and usability evaluation. While still exploring them, he is particularly curious about the potential of emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain, in managing heritage data and is eager to develop his skills in these areas.
Although his academic training in archaeology centred on the Classical period, he has a strong interest in contemporary heritage, especially in preserving ephemeral and everyday objects for future archaeologists. His MA thesis explored the preservation of street art as an example of this approach.
I’m fascinated by everything at the intersection of heritage and information technologies. I enjoy bringing order to the often chaotic world of heritage data. I like to think of myself as a “spreadsheet superhero” who finds joy in turning messy datasets into meaningful and accessible information. The MAEASaM project (hard to pronounce, easy to love) excites me because it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the preservation of African heritage alongside an inspiring team of experts!
Beyond his professional work, Orhun developed www.diyheritage.com, a personal platform for sharing objects and memories he finds meaningful, often street art or everyday items. The project reflects both his personal interests and a DIY approach to learning web development and creating heritage tools from scratch.
Outside of work, Orhun also enjoys documenting ephemeral heritage, camping, learning new skills, and trying to organise boring things via spreadsheets.
Read more about Orhun on LinkedIn.