The Dig House

DCP Available

A documentary that explores the unusual living conditions and extraordinary tales of a team of archaeologists working on the world-renowned excavation of the mosaics of Zeugma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey.

  • Ela Yürekli Gorkay
    Director
  • Rachel Gibson
    Producer
  • Ela Yürekli Gorkay
    Producer
  • Kutalmis Gorkay
    Key Cast
    "Excavation Director "
  • Oznur Semiz
    Key Cast
    "Senior Archeologist "
  • Burcu Ozdemir
    Key Cast
    "Counselor for Culture "
  • Ibrahim Sonmez
    Key Cast
    "Cultural expert "
  • Hande Yaman
    Key Cast
    "Archeologist "
  • Katia Ozborme
    Assistant Director
  • Koji Kashiwa
    Director of Photography
  • Tristan Hellsten
    Editor
  • Ahmad Chogle
    Sound Recordist
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye, United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    English, Turkish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Available
Director - Ela Yürekli Gorkay
Director Statement

The Dig House explores the lives of the archaeologists working at Zeugma, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey best known for its extraordinary Roman mosaics. While the site is often approached through the lens of history, I was drawn to the people who spend their days uncovering, preserving, and living alongside that history.

The film follows a dual narrative: the daily routines of the archaeologists and the journey of an artefact from excavation to museum display. By observing both processes side by side, the documentary examines the often unseen labour, patience, and repetition that shape our understanding of the past. I became interested in the similarities between the life cycle of an artefact and the rhythms of the people who care for it. These processes are both defined by cycles of discovery, then consequent preservation, leading to display to the general public.

Using experimental techniques, including observational imagery, repetition, and associative editing, the film seeks to blur the boundaries between past and present, object and observer. Rather than presenting archaeology as a distant academic practice, The Dig House is an exploration of work, memory, and the quiet rituals that connect people to history on an everyday level.