Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said, “We have been making bilateral protocols for the last 5 years. As a result of these protocols, we ensure that the legal battle that will last for years is concluded within months.” said.
12 historical artifacts of Anatolian origin, which were seized in the USA and returned to Turkey with a court decision as a result of the work carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, were exhibited at the Antalya Archeology Museum.
Bronze bull chariot (2 pieces), Roman period military diploma, Neolithic Pilgrims Mother Goddess figure, Urartian period terracotta vase, Roman period bronze bust crowned male head, Kilia type marble idol, oinochoe from the Ancient City of Hydai, stone from Çatalhöyük on display in the area created in the museum. figurine, Roman Tetrarch statue head, statue head from Perge Theater, Bubon bronze arm and Septimius Severus statue attracted the attention of the visitors.
Minister Ersoy said that they continued their uncompromising policies regarding the protection of cultural assets in all platforms with the same meticulousness at the presentation meeting of the artifacts.
Stating that they gathered here today on the occasion of their significant success in the field of “fighting cultural property smuggling”, which is an important dimension of our strategy, Minister Ersoy said, He noted that they have ensured the return of 12 more of the cultural properties placed.
Pointing out that the cultural assets returned as a successful result of the cooperation developed between the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the American Homeland Security and Intelligence Unit (HSI) and their Ministries, are highly qualified artifacts, Minister Ersoy said:
“The heads of two statues unearthed from our Perge Ancient City were carved in the 3rd century AD, according to the evaluations made by scientists. It is understood that the bodies of the statues in question were carved in earlier periods and depicted emperors, while the heads were reworked in late antiquity. These heads were in two separate collections abroad for many years. We continue our research in the light of previous studies on which bodies these may belong to. These studies gave a clear conclusion about one of these works for now. Our Antalya Archeology Museum experts and Antalya Restoration and Conservation Laboratory experts combined the first of the sculpture heads returned from the USA with its body, thanks to their work. In this way, we can see this work as a whole today.”
Minister Ersoy pointed out that the excavation records, excavation inventory and documentation within the scope of the investigation carried out about the returned artifacts are extremely decisive in terms of the file, and said, “Another piece of our work is the statue of Septimius Severus, originating from the Baubon Ancient City, which was subjected to intense illegal excavation in the 1960s. As with our Lucius Verus statue, which we returned last year and was illegally taken from the same site, the base of the work, the inscription on the base and the consistency of the dimensions of the sockets prepared for the feet to sit on, and the statements in the diary of a fugitive digger are among our prominent pieces of evidence.” he said.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the most important foundations of this work in the investigation phase are Prof. Dr. She stated that there are researches carried out by Jale İnan and Journalist Writer Özgen Acar since the 1970s.
Pointing out that among the artifacts brought, there is a 6-year-old Kilia type idol known to be the only production center in the Kulaksızlar village of Manisa, Minister Ersoy said:
“Our battle for a similar Kilia Idol in the US Courts of Law continues. 'Bronze Portrait with Bust Wreath' is also a work of great value in terms of our country's cultural heritage. It is thought that the artifact, which is dated to the 3rd century AD, may have belonged to an emperor cult priest or someone who organized the races. Scientific reports were effective in the return of the bust, which was determined stylistically to be of Western Anatolian origin, by compiling and examining in detail the illegal excavations and similar forensic records that took place in the region to which it belongs.”
Minister Ersoy, Şanlıurfa bull carriage, Çatalhöyük, Hacılar origin figurines, BC. He emphasized that it was gratifying for them to bring thousands of years old Anatolian cultural assets, such as the Eastern Anatolian decorated vase dating back to 2 B.C., and military diplomas from the Roman Period.
“The Fight Against Smuggling Will Continue Increasingly”
Underlining that their determination in the fight against cultural property smuggling will increasingly continue in the upcoming period, Minister Ersoy said:
“We attach great importance to increasing security in archaeological sites and museums, sharing expert knowledge in border and customs controls, and developing international and bilateral relations. We are very pleased to see the positive results of the additional opportunities we have provided for the fight against cultural property smuggling with the arrangements we have made as the Ministry. We have been doing binary protocols for the last 5 years. As a result of these protocols, we ensure that the legal struggle that will last for years is concluded within months. The primary aim is to ensure that the artifact is brought back, but our primary aim is to reduce the market value of cultural assets that have been illegally extracted from Anatolia. They are no longer finding buyers. This is the most important way to stop the treasure hunters. The buyers of Anatolian cultural assets that were taken abroad without permission are now very few with these protocols. When collectors bring these artifacts to light, our ministry immediately notices and a massive legal intervention begins. Thanks to these protocols, these assets are brought back to our country in a short time. All collectors have learned this now. This is the most important method and Türkiye is successfully implementing this method.”
The Importance of the Memorandum of Understanding
Pointing out that the Memorandum of Understanding that they signed with the USA and entered into force in 2021 plays a vital role in the return of valuable artifacts to the lands they belong to, Minister Ersoy said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the relevant authorities of the USA in the field of protection of cultural heritage and fight against smuggling of cultural property, and especially to the Deputy District Attorney Colonel Matthew Bogdanos from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, with whom we have established a cooperation that will set an example to the whole world with our joint work for a while, and his valuable team, American Homeland Security. And once again I would like to thank the Intelligence Unit for their meticulous work. I would also like to congratulate the relevant units of our Ministry, who have made great contributions to these studies in research, examination, gathering evidence and providing witness statements.”
Minister Ersoy thanked the late Prof. Dr. Explaining that she commemorated Jale Inan with mercy, she said, “Our academicians, Prof. Dr. Turan Takaoglu, Prof. Dr. Sedef Çokay Grab, Prof. Dr. Ertekin Doksanaltı, Prof. Dr. Kaan İren and Prof. Dr. Hans Rupprecht Goette and Prof. Dr. Brigitte Freyer-Schauenburg, architect Arzu Öztürk and Dr. I would like to thank İsmail Fazlıoğlu, our Antalya Archeology, Anatolian Civilizations and Burdur museums, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our New York Culture and Promotion Attaché, and the THY family for delivering our artifacts to our country free of charge and with great care.” made its assessment.
Stating that the 12 works to be exhibited at the Antalya Museum are very important parts of the cultural heritage, Minister Ersoy added that their operations regarding many works continue and that they will give the good news of new works in a very short time.
US Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake said that he is very pleased to be at the Antalya Archeology Museum and to be a part of the process of returning cultural assets to the country.