TOPLUM" OR "TOPLUMSAL"? CONCEPTUAL AMBIGUITY IN TURKISH ARCHAEOLOGY AND A TERMINOLOGY PROPOSAL

The global evolution of the concept of "Public Archaeology" parallels the transition in science com - munication from the "Public Understanding of Science" (PUS) model to the participatory "Public Engagement with Science" (PES) model. However, within the Turkish context, this theoretical transformation has been overshadowed by the lack of consensus in the academic world regarding the translation of the English term "Public Archaeology". The most frequently used equivalents for this concept in Turkish literature are the terms "Toplum Arkeolojisi" and "Toplumsal Arkeoloji". It is observed that these two terms are often used interchangeably or concurrently in Turkish literature without evaluating their structural origins and implications. This study argues that this terminologi - cal indecision is a symptom of the conceptual disorientation the discipline experiences between the PUS and PES models. The article discusses how the "Toplum Arkeolojisi" approach, which is a noun phrase that positions society as a passive object, is shaped by existing institutional and academic structures in Turkey and how it is manifested through unsustainability in digitalization processes. Conversely, it is argued that "Toplumsal Arkeoloji," an adjective phrase derived with the {+sAl} suffix, is an ethical necessity that redefines archaeology as a relational practice based on shared authority and dialogue. Adopting this approach, early examples of which are evident in the works of Halet Çambel, stands out as a critical step for the democratization of the discipline and the preservation of its public legitimacy.