After joining an excavation in Turkey, I'm worried about the site's vulnerability to looters. Is this a common issue?

3 comments

3 Comments

Man, your concern is completely valid and it's something that weighs on many archaeologists. Looting remains a huge issue, particularly in areas with significant historical value like Turkey. While some sites have protection, it's often stretched thin across vast or remote locations. Seeing artifacts disappear feels like watching history get erased, which is devastating. Engaging local communities as stewards can sometimes bolster security efforts. Keeping this conversation going is key to finding better solutions.

dakotac751h ago

Remember reading about that Neolithic site in Turkey where they found a giant carved head. Locals near the dig initially tried to guard it themselves, but the article said once word got out, looters arrived and smashed it to pieces to sell the fragments. That specific head is just gone now, history literally broken into bits for some collector. It shows how even community watch can get overwhelmed when the financial incentive hits. Pieces like that just vanish into the black market and we never get the full story.

david_young2h ago

Nah, don't lose sleep over it. Sites like that usually have more protection than you'd expect.