Treasure hunters unearth burial chamber in Turkey's west

KÜTAHYA – Doğan News Agency

An ancient Roman-era burial chamber has been unearthed by treasure hunters who dug a three-meter tunnel inside a shanty house in the western province of Kütahya. 

The suspects kept the earth from the tunnel in the shanty house in the Alipaşa neighborhood. 

After learning about an illegal excavation, the Kütahya Police Department for Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime began to observe the house. 

The residents of the house, Muzaffer Kınteş, 67, his son Muhammet Kınteş, 25, and their friends Mehmet Ali Günay, 49, and Okan Açıkgöz, 39, were all detained in an operation, although police are still searching for two fugitives. 

The suspects were released after giving testimony. 

Further works initiated by museum officials in the field unearthed a 2,000-year-old Roman-era chamber, which is believed to have belonged to an administrator. Archaeological works will continue in the area, said officials.