Ancient City of Sardis and Bintepe Tumuli to Be Protected from the Air
The Aerial Monitoring and Security Center established for the Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe has commenced operations. The region is being protected by long-range drones equipped with night vision.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy inaugurated the Aerial Monitoring and Security Center for the Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe. Spanning an area of approximately 75 square kilometers, the Bintepeler region will be monitored using drones with night vision capabilities.
Aerial Monitoring Center Opened
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy officially inaugurated the Aerial Monitoring and Security Center for the Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe.
Security to Be Ensured by Drones
Spanning an area of approximately 75 square kilometers and housing more than 120 monumental tombs, the Bintepeler region will be monitored from the air using long-range unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with night vision capabilities.
Center Near Karnıyarık Tepe
The former excavation house located near Karnıyarık Tepe, which overlooks Bintepeler, was renovated and transformed into a modern Aerial Monitoring and Security Center, with two drone systems stationed at the facility.
UNESCO Heritage and Combatting Smuggling
It was recalled that the Ancient City of Sardis and Bintepeler were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025, and it was emphasized that the fight against cultural property smuggling rests on three fundamental pillars: prevention, international cooperation, and repatriation.
International Cooperation and Repatriation Data
It was announced that 13,474 cultural artifacts have been brought back to Turkey since 2002, with 9,159 of them secured in the last eight years.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US in 2021 regarding import restrictions on cultural properties was extended for another five-year term in 2026.