Vandals spray paint 3,000-year-old sarcophagus

AMASRA

A 3,000-year-old sarcophagus in the northern province of Bartın’s Amasra district from ancient Roman times has been spray painted with the Turkish name “Gülay” and the identity of the vandal remains unknown, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on July 16.

“Fifteen years ago the sarcophagus was displayed on a walking path in the local area since there was no space in the garden of the Amasra Museum. We are disappointed to see spray paint writings on it. We kindly ask tourists to respect our history and culture,” Hüseyin Boran, the head of Amasra Culture and Tourism Foundation, was quoted as saying by the agency.

Investigations to find the identity of the vandal has started, according to Fuat Dursun, the head of Amasra Provincial Culture and Tourism. Dursun also said that the damage done to the sarcophagus will be repaired with sanding techniques.

Amasra (derived from Greek Amastris) currently corresponds to an idyllic Black Sea port town in present-day Bartın. But hiding beneath this veneer of modernity, the city itself boasts a historical legacy that possibly goes back to the early Bronze Age of Anatolia.

The archaeologists have likened it to a museum filled with a plethora of ancient artifacts still untouched by the rigors of time.

Some preliminarily found artifacts have already hinted at the 5,000-year legacy of the site, though not much is known about the initial phase of the settlement.