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Authorities in Türkiye’s Antalya province have launched an investigation after cultural heritage items dating back to the Roman and Ottoman periods were found for sale in a workshop in Manavgat.
Former Antalya Directorate of Surveying and Monuments head Cemil Karabayram visited the decoration and furniture manufacturing shop after a friend informed him of the items. He said he was shocked by what he saw.
“I examined each piece one by one. These are immovable cultural assets. I am an expert in conservation and restoration. I know exactly what they are,” Karabayram told Hurriyet.
“Every corner of the workshop contained a different piece of history. They had stacked the items on top of each other after looting them.”
He said the collection included 300–400-year-old cedar doors and windows with natural dyes and engravings, fireplaces, lattices, wooden cradles, and stamped, decorated dough troughs from Ottoman-era buildings in Akseki, Ibradi, Ormana, Sarihacilar, and other towns.
More alarmingly, Roman-era column capitals had been left on the floor and were also for sale.
“They asked me for $610-$730 (₺25,000–₺30,000). I could not hold back my tears. I immediately informed all relevant authorities,” Karabayram said. “The open looting of cultural property like this is unacceptable. Our state institutions will do what is necessary.”
The items were reportedly being sold for between $730 and $980.
Antalya Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Candemir Zoroglu said his office had started an investigation.
“We have begun work to identify the pieces. Our Side Museum Directorate is taking the necessary steps. No determination has yet been made on the doors and windows, but the column capitals could result in a heavy penalty,” he told Hurriyet.
Side Museum officials, accompanied by gendarmerie, collected the archaeological items from the workshop and transferred them to the museum.
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