Dr. Tim Brown’s Summer in Turkey Provides Potential Opportunities for NSCM Film Students

A man and a woman in sun hats smiling outdoors with a green landscape and cloudy sky in the background.

Summer is the perfect time for traveling and new adventures. Dr. Tim Brown, Associate Professor at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media and his fiancé, Dr. Amanda Groff, a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at UCF recently traveled to Kerkenes, in Central Turkey. They were there for an excavation project Groff was conducting with project director, Dr. Scott Branting.

The site is 2500 years old and is unique because it was a planned city on a mountain top that was built out of granite and home to several thousand of people. However, it was only there for 100 years until it was all demolished. Since then, archaeologists and historians had the opportunity to excavate the site to discover life at that time.

Although this was an anthropology project, Dr. Brown was able to shoot video and produce stories in Turkey. He said, “I’ve been somewhat jealous of my good friend Rick Brunson as well as my film colleagues, who get chances to tell stories with students. Rick’s voice was in my head, and I just jumped in and started shooting video. That led to a couple of great projects, including a couple of stories and some “proof of concept” videos.”

Dr. Brown expressed that he has a newfound respect for his anthropology colleagues and was thrilled to be part of Dr. Groff’s world. “She’s an extraordinary online teacher, but it was also really fun to see her work with students in the field, helping them grow as archaeologists and scientists. She always does amazing work, and this was no different.” Brown is ecstatic about going back to Turkey one day, and hopefully next time with students as more opportunities grow.

A man and a woman in sun hats smiling outdoors with a green landscape and cloudy sky in the background.
Dr. Tim Brown, NSCM (L) and Dr. Amanda Groff, Anthropology (R) (courtesy Dr. Scott Branting).
Two archaeologists kneel in an excavation site, examining dirt and rocks. They are equipped with tools and surrounded by trenches, buckets, and a vehicle in the background.
Dr. Scott Branting, Anthropology (L) and Dr. Amanda Groff (R) look over progress on an excavated wall at the Kerkenes Project.
Aerial view of a grassy landscape with a partially visible structure and winding dirt paths. Sparse trees dot the scene.
A view from the top of Kerkenes Mountain to the current site of excavation by UCF archaeologists.
A rural landscape with houses, a dirt road, and lush green hills under a cloudy sky. A puddle is visible in the foreground.
A view of Kerkenes mountain at sundown.

 

A person in a blue shirt and hat leans against a large stone wall under a clear blue sky.
Dr. Tim Brown at the foot of the main gate at the top of Kerkenes Mountain. Yup.. that’s all granite behind him… all 25 feet high!
A herd of cows grazes in a grassy area near rustic buildings and hilly terrain under a partly cloudy sky.
Livestock from the village of Sahmuratli, after grazing on the mountain all day.
Cows grazing on a green hillside under a clear blue sky, with distant rolling hills in the background.
Livestock from Sahmuratli grazing outside the excavation site.
Sign on a grassy hill with rocks, a fence in the background, and a few trees under a clear blue sky.
A sign in front of the current excavation site, letting tourists know the history behind the site.

 

By Majdulina Hamed.

Published to Nicholson News on August 2nd, 2023.

If you have any news, accomplishments or highlights about your work or life, please be sure to share them with us, by emailing us at NicholsonNews@ucf.edu.