A new wave of reactions has been sparked by statements from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke about Turkish pioneering in archaeology and announced explorations not only in Turkey but also in regions where “a Turk has set foot.”
At the International Archaeology Symposium being held in Ankara, the Turkish president mentioned that his country has secured the return of 13,291 historical artifacts since 2002 and emphasized that “our specialists will first explore every inch of our country and then every place where a Turk has ever set foot, meticulously documenting our cultural heritage.”
Erdogan was photographed with the statue of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius that returned after 65 years
The symposium, taking place at the presidential complex, brings together more than 250 academics, including 29 international experts. Among them, 33 academics – 17 from abroad – are scheduled to present their studies. Excavation directors from across Turkey will also gather for the event.
As part of the symposium, the “Golden Age of Archaeology” exhibition opened to the public, showcasing 485 artifacts from various ancient cities for the first time. One of the exhibition’s most significant highlights is the headless bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, which was returned to Turkey after 65 years, with which Erdogan and his wife Emine were photographed.
