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A 3,000-year-old rock-cut tomb in Türkiye’s Afyonkarahisar province, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, has been illegally transformed into a cafe-restaurant.
Located in the village of Ayazini, the site—once a sacred burial space from the Phrygian era—is now operating under the name "Tas Bahce" (Stone Garden), outfitted with carpets, wooden seating, lighting fixtures, and even a chimney heating system.
As first reported by Hurriyet journalist Salim Uzun, the operators of the business decorated the protected interior of the rock chambers with ornamental items affixed by nails and installed electrical wiring directly into the ancient stone. Transparent doors have been added to seal off the tomb chambers during winter, and a wood- or coal-burning stove has been placed inside for heating. The establishment even placed a swing outside the monument to attract visitors.
Despite being a registered archaeological asset, all modifications were carried out without approval from the Regional Conservation Council, Türkiye's authority overseeing the protection of cultural heritage. Images and videos showcasing the altered site were openly shared on the café’s social media accounts, captioned as "The glory of the stone rooms."
Experts have sharply criticized the unauthorized repurposing of the Phrygian-era tomb, stressing the cultural and spiritual importance of such sites. Professor Nevzat Cevik of Akdeniz University’s Archaeology Department emphasized that “not even a chair should be placed next to a registered monument without permission, let alone converting it into a cafe.” He stated that the business owners are fully aware of the tomb’s value and are exploiting its historical appeal for commercial gain.
One of Türkiye’s most prominent archaeologists, Professor Havva Iskan, also condemned the transformation. “These are burial chambers with spiritual meaning for the people who lived at that time. We’ve unfortunately turned them into amusement parks,” she said, adding, “They even drilled into the rock to install electricity. Who knows, maybe they’re making tea and coffee right inside the tomb.”
Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has swiftly launched an investigation. Birol Incecikoz, director general of cultural assets and museums, confirmed that the activities were unauthorized.
Although previous inspections were hampered when evidence was temporarily removed, he confirmed that the site lies within a privately owned parcel but remains under official cultural protection due to its archaeological significance.
“All infrastructure work carried out without permission in a registered structure is a violation. We’ve initiated legal proceedings and are closely monitoring the matter,” he said.
Museum authorities from Afyonkarahisar confirmed that social media images and videos were treated as formal complaints and following Salim Uzun's news, the illegal installations were completely removed. Officials emptied the tombs, took out all carpets and couches, and dismantled the electrical wiring. As a result, the structure was returned to its original condition.
The operator of the venue, Halil Cakmak, claimed that they had already applied for usage permissions and were awaiting a response.
“We weren’t acting in bad faith. We just wanted to contribute to the region’s development,” he said. He also mentioned that although they paid a compensation fee known as “ecrimisil,” it did not apply to this specific area.
Cakmak confirmed that officials had visited the site, removed all furnishings, and documented the space. He added that their business would continue operating outside of the tomb area.
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