Michael Gough (archaeologist)

Michael Gough (1916-1973) was a British archaeologist and art historian specializing in the archaeology of early Christian Turkey, particularly Cilicia. He is most noted for his extensive excavations at the Byzantine site of Alahan Monastery (Koja Kalessi), located in the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey.

Gough studied at Cambridge University before serving in the British Army during World War II. After the war, he became a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and later at the University of Toronto. He began his archaeological work in Turkey in the 1950s, initially focusing on Roman and Hellenistic sites before shifting his focus to the Byzantine period.

His work at Alahan Monastery, which spanned from 1952 until his death in 1973, revealed a significant early Christian complex, including two churches, a baptistery, and living quarters. Gough meticulously documented the architecture, mosaics, and sculptures of Alahan, providing valuable insights into the development of Byzantine art and monastic life in the region. He published extensively on Alahan, including preliminary reports and a major monograph, "The Early Churches of Cilicia" (1967).

Beyond Alahan, Gough conducted research and surveys at other sites in Cilicia, including Mopsuestia (modern Misis) and Anavarza. He also made contributions to the study of early Christian sculpture and iconography. Gough's work helped to establish the importance of Cilicia as a key region for understanding the development of early Christianity and Byzantine culture.