Profile
Halet Çambel (1916–2014) was an archaeologist based in Türkiye. She carved her name in history not only as the first Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics but also as an archaeologist. Born in Berlin to a Turkish military attaché, Çambel’s life was a series of groundbreaking achievements, from refusing to meet Adolf Hitler on political grounds during the 1936 Summer Olympics to playing a role in the decryption of Hittite hieroglyphics using the Phoenician alphabet. Her work at Karatepe, a late 12th century BC Hittite city led to the establishment of the Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum, preserving Türkiye's cultural heritage.Çambel was instrumental in protecting endangered heritage sites and introduced stone restoration techniques that have significantly contributed to preserving Türkiye's archaeological heritage. She founded the chair of prehistoric archaeology at Istanbul University, where she taught and inspired generations of students, further extending her impact on the field.
