"In September 2011 the Netherlands Institute in Turkey (NIT) has launched a project for the digitization and publication of the
photographic archive of Machiel Kiel. A former director of the NIT, Kiel is a renowned Dutch scholar intrinsically connected with the study of Ottoman architectural monuments in the Balkan countries, which he pioneered. His archive represents an invaluable source for researchers of this heritage. Created for the most part between the 1960s and 90s, it also contains visual documentation of many monuments that have not survived, or have been significantly altered in, the second half of the twentieth century.
The publication of Kiel’s archive by the NIT is hoped to significantly advance international research on this heritage.
In May, 2012, the NIT made available online the almost 1300 images digitized and processed within phase 1 of the project, pertaining to Ottoman-Islamic architectural monuments in the Southeast-European countries (outside Turkey).
During phase 2 will be processed these images of monuments in Turkish Thrace; during phase 3, Christian monuments and mural painting from the Ottoman period will follow. The NIT will successively make available this material to the public.
For further information, please contact the coordinator of the project, Dr. Maximilian Hartmuth, at kielarchive@nit-istanbul.org"
