Turkish Customs Seize Mesopotamian Artifacts on the Syrian Border

Turkey's cross-border post of Cilveg\"oz\". (Wikimedia Commons/Orhan ErkENTelmen)

JAKARTA - About 51 historical artefacts believed to be from the Mesopotamian era were confiscated by Turkish customs officers, before being successfully smuggled to the Syrian border.

A vehicle trying to pass through the Cilvegözü customs gate and cross Turkey's border with Syria caught the attention of the customs team during an inspection.

The officer's attention was focused on the area between the steering wheel and the windshield which was covered with cloth. Officers immediately checked the section. As soon as the layer of cloth was opened, officers immediately found various human and animal statues hidden behind the cover.

The statues were immediately sent to the Hatay Museum Directorate, to be examined by a team from the Cilvegözü Smuggling and Customs Enforcement Intelligence Directorate, because they were suspected of being historical artifacts.

Expert analysis revealed that the statues did not come from Anatolia but from Mesopotamian sites, most likely from sites in Iraq, reported Daily Sabah January 4.

Thousands of years old, the artifacts are made of ivory and animal bones. Originally a cultural asset produced to decorate furniture or similar items.

It is stated that the bone figures, which are estimated to date from 2750-2250 BC, are similar to figures found in the tombs of the kings of Ur and exhibited in museums such as the British Museum, Baghdad Museum, Louvre Museum, Chicago University Museum and the Syrian Deir el-Zour Museum.

It is known that the 51 Artifacts seized will remain under official protection, and an investigation led by the Reyhanlı General Prosecutor's Office is underway.