[koheripbal]

It is extremely difficult to do archeology in many countries in the middle-east, even pre-war.

Turkey, for example refuses most requests for digs. It is generally understood that they don't want excessive religious historical context placed on their country as it doesn't mesh well with their current national identity.

[ducktective]

Can you elaborate on Turkey being unwilling to conduct historical research on its soil? Are you an archeologist/historian? I ask because I'm generally interested in history. I've read speculations that the region called Anatolia has had a shift in 14th century in language/culture/etc.