Why Dont The Turks Protect Their History?

[HappyMonday]

A friend of mine recently whilst out walking uncovered what in the UK would have been a major archeological find -  a huge mosaic floor of Byzantine origin.  He was concerned that it would be dug up so contacted the local Museum and reluctantly agreed to come out and see it. After doing so they said that he (not them) would need to contact the 'bosses' in Antalya and could he also look after this until contact was made and they had seen it.  He has been trying to do so but a few days ago was there and three Turks came across him (they had obviously been tipped off by someone) with their metal detector suggesting that they dig for gold and share anything that they find. Not much he could do and despite them saying nothing was there he now believes that they will come back and dig up this find.  Clearly he does not want to share the location but if someone did have a knowledge and contacts in this area of history then I am sure that he would want to speak to them.  It is annoying that so little support in safeguarding and preserving this find was provided when it was identified. I have only seen the photos but they are amazing.

[KKOB]

If you take the "Ghost Village" at Kaya as an example, the Turkish governments idea of preservation is to charge visitors to an historic site an extortionate entry fee and then spend absolutely nothing on preserving it and to also make more money by renting out the rights to peddle tacky souvenirs to local businessmen.

[busybee]

Shameful

[HappyMonday]

An even better examples KKOB

[corbindallas]

The amount of Roman pottery and part structure I have dug up in mine and our neighbours gardens is amazing the place is littered with it. I agree it is a shame that there is no formal route to protect this history. I am appalled at how charges are made to enter these sites yet very little done to preserve the main sites. Cadianda ruins in Uzumlu is a typical example of this, charged entry in the summer, a very dodgy and somewhat dangerous road up to it, empty and unprotected in the winter, yet it is used on a lot of posters etc to promote the area.I understand there is just too much history to look after, but if it is part of a charging scheme then they should look after said site.Also like your friends find it is significant enough for preservation even if relocated, as you say in the UK it would be heavily looked after and preserved.

[Scunner]

There used to be (and probably still is) a large granite block, covered in carved writing, on it's side almost in a ditch on the way to Tlos. It's a real shame - in the UK they go the opposite way and would probably cordon off the area for 6 months while they exacavate all around it. I've been to a number of villages in the hills around the area and there appears to be no end of Roman relics in village gardens, often put to use as a seat or planting pot or bird bath etc.

In one way it is quite sad, but in another it is so exciting to think that there might be huge, untouched ancient settlements yet to be discovered. It would be so interesting to get a full picture of just how widespread the Roman occupation of Lycia was for example.

[Colwyn]

I think it might be fair to point out that Byzantine remains are not exactly part of the history of the Turks; they are part of the history of Anatolia from before the arrival of the first Turks and represent the legacy of a quite different ethnicity, culture and religion. Also that Turkey does not have the same level of public funding available as in the UK.

Having said that I also frequently despair at the careless and short-term approach too commonly seen in Turkey in relation to antiquities and also natural treasures. Take for example, the near ruination of the Pamukkale cliffs during the 1990s with hotels given building permission to sit on the very cliff edge and use the precious mineral-rich waters for their swimming pools.[There is a goose and golden eggs cliche lurking here]. However, at the 11th hour policy changed I hear that "Cotton Castle" is beginning to recover.

Perhaps things are getting better. The work at Efes/Ephesus is stunning (although better seen out of season). And at local level I know of one 6th century Byzantine church in a little village that was recently excavated and its mosaic floor exposed. Then funding ran out and work had to cease. But in this case the floor was covered with tarpaulin and a layer of sand and gravel spread on top so the site would not deteriorate before further funding could be found to continue.

This is an improvement and perhaps shows that those Turks who do care about heritage are making some progress. Let us hope so. It is all too easy to be negative and to miss the positive things that are happening.

[joannasal]

I have some guests in Ovacik who bumped into the gentleman mentioned in the OP when they were out walking and exploring. The gentleman showed them the mosaic and explained what he had done and the response he was given. As regular visitors they were shocked and saddened at the lack of interest shown by the Turkish museum. They also said it is a stunning mosaic and could not believe the lack of interest shown. Very sad

[usedbustickets]

Not so sure that we 'Brits' have complete bragging rights over the Turks on Roman remains, it is arguable that it is only in the last 20 years or so we have begun to recognise the extent of roman antiquity in England.  The difference is that in most cases we simply built on top of the Roman buildings, whilst the Turks haven't, or at least on a lot of it they haven't.

As to Colwyn's point that the Turks being a 'recent'migrant to Anatolia they have little interest - and resources to spend - as the Byzantine/Roman is not part of their heritage, is possibly correct.  Although as someone of Saxon descent I am fascinated by what the roman's and celts did before my forefathers arrival on the English shores, after the romans departure.  I am sure there are plenty of other descent including other germanic, norse, norman, french, irish, dutch, russian, central european, carribean, indian sub continent who have come to these shores  just as interested as me in the roman and other periods of our shared history.

Which leads me onto another point.. what have the Roman's ever done for us?

[Old Daffodil]

They left us with a calender:D

If you walk along Hadrians Wall it is possible to see where stones were taken from it to build roads and farm buildings at some time in the past.