In 1833, the French government sent a research expedition to Asia Minor, led by famous French historian and archaeologist Charles Texier (Félix Marie Charles Texier, 22 August 1802, Versailles – 1 July 1871, Paris).
The expeditionary group studied the areas of ancient Phrygia, Cappadocia, and Lycia. In 1834, the group discovered the ruins of Hattusa, the capital of the ancient Hittite Kingdom. A few years later, Texier visited Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Iran.
Subsequently, Texier published his studies, which he accompanied with detailed maps, paintings, and detailed geographic and geological descriptions of the above-mentioned regions.