Aerial Security Center Opened for Sardis Ancient City and Bintepe Tumuli
With the new center established to protect cultural assets, the Bintepeler area will be monitored using long-range drones.
The Sardis Ancient City and Bintepe Lydian Tumuli Aerial Monitoring and Security Center has commenced operations with the participation of Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Aerial Surveillance System Put Into Operation
The official opening of the Sardis Ancient City and Bintepe Lydian Tumuli Aerial Monitoring and Security Center was carried out by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Vast Area Will Be Protected by Drones
Spanning an area of approximately 75 square kilometers and housing more than 120 monumental tombs, the Bintepeler region will be continuously monitored from the air via high-tech, long-range drones equipped with night vision capabilities.
Combating Cultural Property Smuggling
Minister Ersoy stated that they have built their ongoing efforts upon three fundamental pillars: preventing the smuggling of cultural property, international cooperation, and the repatriation of artifacts.
Number of Artifacts Brought Back to Turkey
According to the announcement, a total of 13,474 cultural properties have been returned to Turkey since 2002, with 9,159 of them having been brought back to the country over the past eight years.
UNESCO World Heritage List Inscription
It was emphasized that the inclusion of the Sardis Ancient City and Bintepeler Lydian Tumuli in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025 officially registered the universal value of this historical heritage at an international level.