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Excavation permits maybe revoked unless Hattusa Sphinx is returned

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Bacardi
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« on: March 01, 2011, 12:35:09 am »

Excavation permits maybe revoked unless Hattusa Sphinx is returned



The ongoing battle for repatriation of the Hattusa Sphinx reached a new phase when Turkey’s culture minister demanded that Germany return the priceless artefact or permits for excavations within the country would be revoked.

Ertugrul Gunay told the Tagesspiegel that German authorities had until the start of the digging season in June to hand back the sphinx, thought to date back to 1400 BCE. “If there is no commitment (to return the sphinx) by the beginning of the digging season, I am firmly determined to cancel the excavation licence for Hattusa,” said the minister.
Berlin – Pergamon Museum. Photo: © Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GFDLBerlin – Pergamon Museum. Photo: © Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GFDL

Berlin – Pergamon Museum. Photo: © Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GFDL

The sphinx was excavated from the ancient city of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite empire, in the early part of the 20th century.  One of a pair they were taken to Germany for restoration but only one was returned, with the other now on display at the  Berlin Pergamon Museum, much to Turkey’s annoyance.

Mr Gunay also threatened several other German archaeological digs around the country, saying the permits may be transferred to Turkish archaeologists. “Turkey has new universities, new archaeological institutes as well as keen and successful archaeologists. If we do not see the hoped-for cooperation in this area, we would not hesitate to transfer the digs to our own universities.” he said.

Berlin’s Culture Minister, Andre Schmitz told the German Press Agency that, “In my opinion the sphinx, which was loaned to Germany for restoration in 1915, should be returned to Turkey.”

Berlin’s Foreign Ministry said discussions were already under-way with Turkey and that experts from both countries would meet in the coming months.
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Bacardi
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« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2011, 12:35:52 am »



Berlin – Pergamon Museum. Photo: © Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GFDL
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Bacardi
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« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2011, 12:36:47 am »



The Sphinx Gate at Hattusa with surviving statue. © Günther Eichhorn

Turkish authorities recently stripped German archaeologists of the right to dig at another western Anatolian site where they have been since 1926 for ‘not doing enough work’ there.  The dig has now been given to a Turkish university instead. The ministry said they are also unhappy with Germany’s efforts at Hattusa itself, with Gunay explaining that very little restoration work has been conducted in recent years.

Germany is also embroiled in a row with Egypt, which has demanded the return of the 3,400-year-old bust of Nefertiti which currently has pride of place in the Neues Museum in Berlin. Cairo began to demand the restitution of the Pharaonic-era statue back in the 1930s, but successive German governments have insisted the piece was bought legally and that there are documents to prove it.
http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/02/2011/excavation-permits-maybe-revoked-unless-hattusa-sphinx-is-returned

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