[MSN] Turkey. Historical Cemetery in Gebze Looted.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

11.06.2006 Monday - ISTANBUL 17:24 

Historical Cemetery in Gebze Looted 
By Itifat Necefli 
Saturday, November 04, 2006 
zaman.com 


 During infrastructure work in the IMES (Istanbul Machinery and Production
Industrialists) Industrial Zone in the village of Koseler in Gebze, which is
southeast of Istanbul, graves and historical artifacts estimated to be 2,150
years old were discovered.

Some of the artifacts were seized after learning that they were being
smuggled. 

The historical artifacts that were discovered during excavation work in an
industrial zone in Gebze district in Kocaeli were reportedly looted. 

According to the information, only a tear bottle and a corrugated stirring
stick were left. 

It was detected that the glass tear bottle and the corrugated stirring stick
that were found during work to finish an infrastructural project for IMES
were seized while being smuggled. 

Artifacts usually have to be transferred to the local museum. 

The Gendarmerie Units of Gebze immediately began investigating the case
after a citizen informed them and found the historical artifacts. 

The Gendarmerie Units arrested A.B., C.K. and U.F. who were hiding the
artifacts and made a criminal complaint for "damaging cultural and natural
entities and hiding historical artifacts." 

Inspecting the digging area where the two artifacts dating back to the
Hellenistic period were discovered, the gendarmerie units came across
sarcophagi shattered with construction equipment, then placed the area under
protection and informed the Kocaeli Directorate of Museums. 

Upon the first inspection of the shattered pieces of sarcophagi carried out
by the officials from the directorate, it was found that the area, now an
industrial zone, was once a mass burial place in the Hellenistic era. 

The officials also inspected the writings and symbols on the historical
graves and drew up a record but did not take any measures to be able to make
later a detailed report on the subject for the Istanbul Board of Monuments. 

The unmonitored digging work carried out by heavy construction equipment in
the industrial zone of IMES resumed after the officials of the directorate
left, awaiting authorization to thoroughly inspect the historical cemetery,
which was left in the middle of the construction area. 

It is unknown how many historical artifacts had been stolen from the area
before the event came to light. 

http://www.zaman.com/