Men Posing as City Workers Unearth Ancient Artifacts in Illegal Isparta Excavation

Four men were arrested in Isparta, Turkey, after posing as municipal workers to conduct an illegal nighttime excavation.

Their illicit dig, which damaged electricity and gas lines, unearthed fragments of an ancient sarcophagus and pottery, highlighting the ongoing problem of looting in Turkey. The artifacts could potentially date back to various periods, including the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, or Ottoman eras, among others.

The suspects, identified as Halis T., Hacı D.C., İsmail A., and one other, used a backhoe to excavate a sidewalk, claiming they were performing city work. However, residents became suspicious due to the late hour and lack of safety precautions. Police confirmed the men were not city employees.

The Isparta Museum now has possession of the discovered artifacts, and the excavation site has been filled. A local shopkeeper, Murat Urköse, told Gazete Duvar that the area has a history of yielding treasures, including coins found during the demolition of a nearby mosque years ago. This history likely fueled the suspects’ belief in buried riches.

This incident underscores the growing problem of treasure hunting in Turkey, driven by myths of ancient wealth and exacerbated by economic hardship. Illegal excavations damage historical sites and fuel the black market for antiquities. While laws exist to regulate excavations, enforcement is weak and penalties are minimal. Experts warn that the government’s prioritization of Islamic heritage over other historical sites further jeopardizes Turkey’s diverse cultural legacy, which includes remnants from Hellenistic and other pre-Islamic periods.