Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • TÜRKİYE
  • Istanbul
  • Education
  • Investigations
  • Minorities
  • Expat Corner
  • Diaspora

Archeologist’s suicide fuels artifact smuggling claims in Turkey’s Zeugma museum

by DAILY SABAH

ISTANBUL Jul 17, 2020 - 9:43 pm GMT+3
This file photo shows the famed "Gypsy Girl" mosaic, which was returned by the U.S. to Turkey after 52 years at Zeugma museum, Turkey, May 2018. (AA Photo)
This file photo shows the famed "Gypsy Girl" mosaic, which was returned by the U.S. to Turkey after 52 years at Zeugma museum, Turkey, May 2018. (AA Photo)
by DAILY SABAH Jul 17, 2020 9:43 pm

New findings in the death of Merve Kaçmış, an archeologist who committed suicide in January in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, shed light on a huge omission – or even possible historical artifact smuggling by officials – at the famous Zeugma museum.

Kaçmış took annual leave and went to her brother’s house in Diyarbakır from Gaziantep. On Jan. 13, she jumped off from the house’s balcony. After her suicide, her brother and friends claimed that she had been exposed to mobbing, which drove her depression and eventually caused the incident. It was known that Kaçmış insistently rejected attempts of museum officials handing over the responsibility of artifacts to the museum workers.

According to a report prepared by the Culture and Tourism Ministry over her death, it was revealed that 10 artifacts had gone missing in one of the world's largest mosaic museums. The reports also uncovered that Kaçmış was forced to take responsibility for the 10 missing pieces, along with thousands of other precious artifacts.

Following Kaçmış’s death, the Culture and Tourism Ministry launched a large-scale investigation resulting in a museum manager and two servicemen being dismissed. The ministry also carried out an inventory accounting for 8,729 artifacts, but found out that only 8,719 exist. The investigators decided to deepen the probe.

The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is home to unique ancient artifacts, such as mosaics, Roman-era fountains and the bronze sculpture of Mars – the god of war in Roman mythology. The famed "Gypsy Girl" mosaic, which was returned by the U.S. to Turkey after 52 years, is among the most famous pieces on display at the 30,000-square-meter museum.

According to official ministry data, the museum attracted a record number of visitors with 340,569 people in 2019, becoming the most-visited site in Gaziantep.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jul 18, 2020 12:33 am
    KEYWORDS
    artifact smuggling zeugma museum gypsy girl
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    In photos: Biggest sandstorm in decade hits Beijing
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021