Writing on historical monuments in Phrygia is being erased

The 3,000-year-old settlements, carved rock tombs, churches and fairy chimneys in the extensions of the historical Phrygian Valley in Afyonkarahisar are being cleane

In the parts of Phrygia in the İhsaniye, İscehisar and Bolvadin districts of Afyonkarahisar, it was decided to initiate restoration and conservation work to clean the visual pollution given to old settlements, carved rock tombs, historical churches and fairy chimneys.

The visual pollution of history by vandals in historical places at various points of the valley with spray and paint over time unconsciously attracts the reaction of local and foreign tourists coming to the region.

With the increase in tourism potential in the region thanks to the investments in the Phrygian Valley, Afyonkarahisar Governorship took action to clean the visual pollution of the historical texture, taking into account the reactions.

Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Tanır said that Afyonkarahisar has important rock settlements and historical monuments belonging to the Hittite, Phrygian and Roman periods, which are the common heritage of humanity.

Stating that the Ministry has taken serious steps to protect cultural assets, Tanır said: "We take into account not only uncovering our historical monuments, but also their protection and sustainability. In Phrygia in Afyonkarahisar, our young people unfortunately write their love and affection on these walls. Sometimes it is written by our young people who are going to enlist in the army. With the writings written on these historical monuments, ugly images appear. This incident also reveals our insensitivity towards our historical monuments."

"Please write your love in your heart, not on a mountain"

Tanır reminded that experts from the Regional Directorate of Restoration and Conservation under the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums prepared a report by making an examination in Phrygia.

Stating that within the framework of the report prepared, cleaning works were initiated in the historical sites of the Phrygian Valley in Afyonkarahisar, Tanır stated that the writings in Kırkinler Rock Settlement in İscehisar and Yedikapılar Rock Settlement and Underground City in Bolvadin were cleaned first.

Tanır said, "From now on, our young people will say 'please write your love in your heart, not on the rocks', as you can see, the writings on the rocks are erased. But love and affection written in hearts cannot be erased. We ask our young people to be more sensitive in the protection of these historical places. Let us never harm our cultural assets, which are the common heritage of humanity."

"Cleaning and restoration works are carried out by sandblasting"

Mehmet Tanır said that during their visits to these historical places, local and foreign tourists who come to the city convey to them these writings on the walls that create a bad visual.

Pointing out the importance of social awareness, Tanır concluded his words as follows: "Cleaning the writings in historical places is actually a burdensome work. Cleaning and restoration work is done by sandblasting. This also creates a cost to our state. In other words, it causes the national wealth to be wasted. As a society, we need to be sensitive to the protection of our historical monuments. Cleaning works will continue in Ihsaniye district as well. Camera systems will be installed at some points there for security. Cleaning works will start as soon as possible in the historical places there, which are under protection."

This is the news article published on the website of Hürriyet Newspaper on November 18, 2020 about the restoration and conservation work. Source: https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/keyif/frigyada-tarihi-eserlerin-uzerine-yazilan-yazilar-siliniyor-41665942