Culture Minister Impassive as Ancient Spa Settlement is Doomed

The ancient city of Allianoi close to the ancient sight of Bergama in the province of Izmir is about to be covered by sand due to the construction of the Yortanlı Dam. Six people were arrested in a protest action against the planned procedure, among them Güven Eken, President of the Nature Foundation. All six people were released later on. On 20 September, the activists had chained themselves to the heavy construction equipment taken to the site to cover the ancient city by sand.

Allianoi is an ancient spa settlement dating back to the Roman Empire. The city was in a surprisingly good condition and a rare sight of its kind in the Aegean region. The activation of the Yortanlı Dam will inundate the ancient remains and thus make them disappear for good. The Monument Protection Service had accepted a legal claim against the flooding of Allianoi in 2005. Nevertheless, the same office revised the decision in a non-public session two years later despite international protest of the UNESCO, the EU and ICOMOS.

The Gendarmerie arrested Eken and activists Tayfun Mützenmacher, Elif Mützenmacher, Ebru Tamer, Serhat Demirkol and Seray Yalçın, the latter of whom was wearing a nymph costume in reference to the excavated nymph that was mounted in 2006 and became a symbol of the Allianoi Rescue Campaign.

According to the government's project, Allianoi as one of the oldest ancient health centres will be entirely flooded with the activation of the Yortanlı Dam. Lawsuits filed by the activists postponed this process but the Monument Protection Service in Izmir paved the way to "covering the city in sand" with its controversial decision.

Activists will not give up

bianet spoke with Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Yaraş as the Head of the Allianoi Excavation Board. Yaraş explained the situation as follows:

"Allinanoi is being covered in sand brought by trucks right now. On 22 September, the walls will be covered by concrete and after that the water will come. Despite all efforts and reactions, the massacre takes its course".

Yaraş said that the authorities just watched everything happened and that they did not attend any of the protest actions. He said that the only thing left to do was to constantly monitor the process before the "massacre was being completed". Yaraş added: "We were here for the last action of the Nature Association. We are currently staying in Bergama. We will set up a tent again on Saturday (24 September) to continue our protest. We are working on informing the public. However, unfortunately, Allianoi is being buried".

One more resignation call to Minister Günay

The Chamber of Environmental Engineers addressed the Minister of Culture, Ertuğrul Günay, who had said that his hands were tied regarding Allianoi: "Dear Minister, while the trial is still pending and the entire scientific community and even the Head of the Allianoi excavation Scientific Board are regarding the practice as unscientific, the issue turned into an improvident and desperate situation because a district mayor did not veto".

"Do not become even more pathetic; show respect for your own past at least if you did not respect the world's cultural heritage and the past of mankind. You should resign, this is your only option".

President of the Nature Association Eken said during the protest action on 20 September: "We are demonstrating to document the crime which is being committed here. Minster Ertuğrul Günay is able to stop this massacre by a simple telegram". (SA/TK/VK)