Emma conducted field studies in Turkey
Questions for Emma Vintemon, who carried out Minor Field Studies (MFS) in Türkiye for nine weeks in spring 2025 to collect data for her thesis in archaeology.
Why did you want to do an MFS?
Turkey, where I went, is an incredibly exciting country if you’re interested in the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture.
What was your project about?
I wanted to find out whether there were traces of hemp in Turkey during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period.
What was it like to conduct the field studies?
It was an amazing opportunity to focus entirely on a topic that truly interests me.
What was rewarding?
I had taken a leave of absence from my job, and being able to devote all my time to this project was an incredible experience. I travelled around Turkey to various excavation sites and met many different researchers across the country. But mostly, I stayed in Istanbul — my base during my MFS period — where I read and wrote.
What was challenging?
Arriving alone in a city without knowing anyone, and not being part of a program, meant I spent a lot of time on my own. It was nice in a way, since I could focus fully on my project, and the time was probably too short to get to know people properly anyway. But sometimes I missed connecting with locals. I stayed at the Swedish Research Institute, which was excellent — though also very Swedish.
What did a typical day look like for you during fieldwork?
It varied a bit. Most of the time I lived in Istanbul and worked there — reading, writing, and taking walks nearby. Some days I had scheduled meetings with researchers working in related fields. When I travelled around Turkey, I had meetings booked almost every day, visited museums, or went to excavation sites. I travelled by train and bus, and stayed in simple hostels.
Who did you collaborate with the most on site?
Mainly other research institutes and individual university researchers. I didn’t meet many people in the local community, but I hope to do more of that another time.
Do you have any advice for others who want to apply for MFS?
Apply! Going abroad gave me so much — new contacts, experiences, energy, and knowledge. It’s absolutely worth the effort of putting together an application!
The Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul
The Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul is a resource for students and researchers at Swedish universities. It can assist with contacts in Turkey — for example with researchers, excavations, and research permits.
