1. Survey

The excellent results from the spring season of resistivity survey, which are obtained at relatively little financial cost and are completely non-destructive, fully justify continuation over as much of the level and stone free areas as possible in future seasons.

2. The Main Focus of Excavation

The unexpected and highly significant discoveries of relief sculpture and inscribed stone in the entrance to the Palace Complex, together with the good work that was achieved at the Cappadocia Gate, dictate that the greater part of the effort over the foreseeable future will be conducted in this area on the southern ridge. This program makes good sense in terms of day to day logistics during the main season and it will doubtless yield further results of wide interest even if, as seems likely, it will not be possible to excavate on such a large scale because of financial constraints and increasing costs.

3. Conservation and Enhancement

Clearance at the Cappadocia Gate will be conducted in parallel with a program of architectural conservation and enhancement of this visually impressive monument.

At the Palace Complex it is expected that the gateway paving can be left open, although it might in a future season be expedient to provide a cover of geotextile during the winter if this would not be vandalised or stolen. As excavation proceeds into the complex we propose to continue the practice of earlier seasons and to back fill over original surfaces while putting several courses of new stone on top of the original walls. The rebuilding of low walls above unexcavated, buried, walls will also be continued where this would be advantageous to improving visitor comprehension.