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"Treasure of the Century"
History of Elmalı Coins
After the invasion of Greece by the Persian in 5th century BC, a unit consisting of the cities around the Mediterranean was established under the leadership of Athens City State (Atik-Delos Naval Unit). The unit had a headquarters and a budget. Every country was contributing to it in proportion to its power with the silver coins that it issued.
Elmalı Coins, the treasure of the century, that were revealed in Elmalı Town of Antalya in 1984 as a result of unlawful excavations, included the currencies of all the city states that existed in that region. Over one thousand of about 1900 coins were the currencies of the city states at Lykia region and included the coins of dynasties that were not known to date.
The most important reason for calling such coins as the treasure of the century was because the Greeks issued a memorial coin for defeating the Persians. While normally the currency unit of drachma was maximum 4 drachmas, coins of 10 drachmas were issued as memorial (coin of 10 drachmas = Decadrachma).
These coins were issued at a very restricted amount and until 1984, only 13 of them were known to exist all around the world. There were 14 of them in Elmalı Treasure.
An important unknown part of human history was illuminated by the revealing of Elmalı Treasure and the number of Decadrachmas known to exist all around the world doubled.
Bringing Elmalı Coins Back to Anatolia
Approximately 1900 silver coins were revealed as a result of the unlawful excavations made in Bayındır Village of Antalya/Elmalı Town on 18 April 1984. As the unlawful excavation was reported, the persons who made the excavation and attempted to trade the coins were started to be followed and arrested by the Financial Police and sentenced to various penalties.
However, there is a decree of arrest in default for Fuat Üzülmez, Edip Telliağaoğlu and Nevzat Telliağaoğlu who fled abroad and traded the treasure to auction companies and private collections in Europe and USA. Edip Telliağaoğlu, searched with INTERPOL Red Bulletin was also denaturalized from Turkish citizenship. Fuat Aydıner was arrested in Istanbul in February 1989.
10 of Elmalı Coins were published in the catalog issued by "Numismatic Fine Arts", an ancient coin auction company in Los Angeles, on 10 March 1988. The coins were presented as "revealed in 1984 in Southern Anatolia" in the catalog.
Turkish Government intervened the said auction and terminated the sales of the coins. Upon the notification of the company owner by our counsels that the said 10 coins were smuggled from our country, the coins were returned to our country without any payment and litigation.
On 26 May 1988, 3 Elmalı Coins were put up for sale by "Bank Leu", an auction company, in Zurich this time. The attempts in Los Angeles were repeated in Zurich and the coins were returned.
In May 1991, when "Thalec", another auction company also in Zurich, put up 3 coins for auction, these were also returned through the same initiatives.
It was determined that approximately 1800 of the coins revealed at Bayındır Village through unlawful excavation were purchased by OKS Partners Co., which included American businessman and collector William Koch.
The said collector was requested to return the coins, however, as no affirmative result was reached, a lawsuit was brought at USA Massachusetts State Court in 1989.
New York Consulate General was authorized to have Herrick Feinstein Counseling Company, which prosecuted "Lydia Works" case in USA, prosecute the said case.
All legal struggle was successfully launched against OKS PARTNERS, who were striving not to return Elmalı Coins through four different counseling companies.
It was understood that 1661 of 1900 coins smuggled abroad through unlawful means were kept by the defendant and the others were sold or given as gifts to other persons by the defendant or other persons.
All the information and developments about Elmalı Coins were negotiated in the meeting of Council of Ministers held on 16 February 1998 and the Ministry of Culture was authorized to exert the attempts required for taking Elmalı Coins back through compromise.
As a result of the intense negotiations and attempts carried out throughout 1998, a point of agreement was reached with the parties keeping Elmalı Coins, and the agreement was signed by all the parties as of 1 February 1999.
The interests of our state were protected at maximum level in the contract prepared by the counseling company that prosecuted the case on our behalf for taking the coins back through compromise and signed by the parties.
American businessman William I. Koch, who returned the coins to our state under good condition as a result of the agreement, was presented a badge in a ceremony held at our Embassy at USA/Washington on 4 March 1998 for this good conduct.
Elmalı Coins were taken by Mr. İstemihan TALAY, Minister of Culture, on 28 April 1999 to be brought to our country and were brought to Ankara on 29 April 1999.
In the ceremony held at Anatolian Civilizations Museum in order to introduce the coins to the public, İstemihan TALAY, Minister of Culture, presented one acknowledgment plate each to Journalist-Author Özgen ACAR for his contributions to the attempts of our Ministry in the return process of our works and to Başak Sigorta insurance agency, who insured the works while they were brought to our country.
A very intense legal combat was carried out for bringing these valuable works, which were taken abroad through unlawful means in 1984, back to our country and it was demonstrated to the whole world through the determined attitude that the matter would be pursued and all kinds of cultural heritages of our country would be absolutely claimed.
We are honored on behalf of the humanity that these coins, defined as the treasure of the century, are gained to Turkey at the outset of 21st century.
One of the important characteristics of maps is the accurate and understandable reflection of the relief, which expresses the outlook of the terresterial features on a vertical plane. With this purpose certain production and drawing techniques, such as contour lines, hachures, colour layers, shading and hatching are used separately or a few together. Relief maps are specially produced with various methods reflecting the structure of the terrain in three dimensions as it is in nature, using materials based on cardboard, wax, mixture of resin and wax, gypsum or plastic. In these maps the earth is seen in three dimensions as if looking down from a certain height.
The relief map production technique was initially used in late ninteenth century. The relief maps previously produced manually with hand tools are now being mass produced with use of computers, generally using plastic materials.
Our historical relief maps explained in this research with samples among the first originals of their kind in the world as mentioned in the preface, each being as beautiful as a painting, with the writings, frames and the ornaments on the frames they represent charming samples of calligraphy and the art of decoration. Some of them include oil paintings of the important historical and religious places existing in them plus expressive descriptions of historical events. These paintings and writings, reflecting also the excelling patriotism and emotion of their producers, are ornamented with the attention of a goldsmith.
From this standpoint, the Relief Map of Çanakkale (Gelipoli) Strait (Archive Nr. 6904) existing at the Military Museum and Culture Site (MMCS) in addition to its perfection and beauty as a map, the writing on it summarizes the epic battles of Çanakkale and has the characteristic of a very valuable historical document as it reflects the statistics of the casualties suffered by the allied naval force and indicates the battle lines of the allies and the enemy and includes paintings of the important fortifications and locations. (The work reflects also the vast cartographic knowledge and great skill of its producer, retired Brigadier General Halil İbrahim)
Other than the Relief Map of Çanakkale, the relief map of "Crete and Rhode Islands" at the General Command of Mapping (GCM), the relief map of “Anadolu” (Anatolia) at the Army War School is considered to be produced in memory of a visit paid to Palestine by the German Emperor Wilhelm II, and the relief map of Jerussalem and Palastine take place among the original relief map samples.
The research carried out has revealed that relief maps produced with educational and tactical purposes are much more frequent than the ones mentioned in this research. Some of the products such as the relief maps of Çanakkale Strait, Caucasus, Edirne, Crete and Rhode Islands, are individual maps pertaining to a definite area. Others are in a group of same scale maps covering larger areas, in other words a group of sheets covering a certain area produced in a map series. These map series, consisting of 42 relief sheets, cover Rumeli, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and partly Austria. Unfortunately, out of the 42 sheets at present only 13 sheets are available.
Individually produced and now available, 23 relief sheets can easily be said to form one part of the produced relief maps. In summary, now, in total we hold 36 relief maps. Twenty three of these are individual and the remaining 93 are produced in series.
The available maps, excluding a few, are in good condition. The products existing at the GCM were repaired with the great skill of the Army Captain Nusret Gülün (now retired colonel) in 1966, when brought to Ankara from the MMCS. As maintained later, they are all in good condition, except a sheet newly found this year. (Map of Edirne)
In my reviews I have noticed that relief map production developed in the early 1880's, were greatly favoured in the beginning, but later on the importance attached to these products decreased over time. The reason for this can be explained as follows: considering the flow of relief map production within the historical development of Turkish modern mapping.
After the Ottoman - Russian Battle in 1877, the Chief of General Staff is reorganized in 1880 and the "Fifth Section" included in it is assigned with mapping and scientific activities. Together with this new importance attached to mapping the aim was to train technical personnel capable of new technology and provide new instruments and materials as well as increase the production level to meet the requirements of the country. Meanwhile, with the purpose of meeting the urgent requirement for education and tactical maps and mainly to be helpful for the mapping education at the Army War School, relief maps of certain important areas are started to be produced as educational or wall maps under the leadership of the young instructors of topograhy and surveying at this school. In the later days of 1884 the tactical requirement for this production was more important. In the beginning, First Lieutenant Hasan Rıza, First Lieutenant Ali Haydar (both are masters of calligraphy at the same time), First lieutenant Hasan Behçet and Army Captain Halil Ibrahim are names mentioned in almost every relief map produced until 1895's. In later products, some new names are seen, such as Dağıstanlı Zekeriya Hulki. It is certain that Dağıstanlı Hulki, who started producing relief maps during his cadet years at the Army War School and his comrades are students of the above mentioned leading officers in relief map production.
The latest of our historical relief maps is the one produced again by Brigadier General Halil İbrahim in 1999 upon a private request in memory of The Battles of Çanakkale at the scale of 1/25.000 covering the Strait of Çanakkale and the Battles that took place there.
During the republican period, linear maps being considered as the base in the development and the defence of the country are produced at various scales and completed with priority and no relief maps of importance are produced, other than a few privately produced until the establishment of a relief map section at GCM in 1966. Today at this section, the required various scale relief maps are produced with utmost care and accuracy by very well trained military and civilian personnel using plastic material and sophisticated instruments and devices, most of which are equipped with computers.
- RELIEF MAP OF THE STRAIT OF ÇANAKKALE AND ITS BATTLES
Information : This map covers the Strait of Çanakkale and mainly the Gelibolu Peninsula. It is produced by retired Brigadier General Cerrahpaşalı Halil Bey (Halil İbrahim). On cloth coated wooden surface, seas and lakes are painted in blue colour. The terrain is indicated by means of cardboards cut in layers according to the contour lines and stuckone on top of the other and then filling the formed layer gaps with a mixture of resin and wax it is retouched. The top of the model is oil painted in the colours of the features indicated. The lettering by hand is made directly on the terrain and the seas. The additional information requiring explanation is written on separate pieces of paper and then stuck to the map where they belong. The map is in a plain wooden frame of 4.5 cm. width.
The additional information and the illustrations existing on the map are:
1- Sultan Mehmet Reşad's monogram and a poem written by him on the occasion of the heroic defence of Çanakkale.
2- Sufficent information relevant to the war ships of Britain and France lost during their attack on the Çanakkale Strait on 18 March 1995 and the subsequent days.
3- A small scale map of the Marmara Sea
4- The explanation note on the victory of 18 March 1915 Çanakkale war.
THE RELIEF MAP OF THE STRAIT OF ISTANBUL
Information : This map covers the Strait Istanbul and both its sides.
The model is made of wax on a cardboard base and is oil painted. Seas are indicated by mean painting in blue colour the cloth stuck on cardboard. All of the lettering (important, geographic specification and population) is in hand writting.
No information has been available concerning the producers and its date. The frame is not original and a simple one of 5.5 cm. width, thought to be made later on.
General Command of Mapping Cartography Museum. Ankara. Scale 1/37.500, 74x106.5 Dimensions.
RELIEF MAP OF PLEVEN AND ITS FORTRESS
Information: This first produced map, which is plain and in size much smaller than the others, covers the city Pleven and the Ottoman fortification in the glorious defense of Pleven in 1877 and the Russian fortification opposite to it. It is reproduced from the same mould in gypsum.
As it is reproduced from the same model, possibly other copies of it may be found in future. As the writtings on the map are depressed, it proves that a positive mould is skillfuly produced. As the conventional signs indicating the fortification are on the other hand negatively prepared on the main positive mould, they are in relief. There are two same relief maps.
A part of 10 x 97 cm. of the first map in the north – west corner, is broken. This piece is missing and the map has no frame. Some parts of the second map, are also broken, but these pieces are available. This map has a thinly gypsum coated wooden frame of 3 cm. width.
At the intersection point of two lines drawn vertically 15.5 cm. from the north - west, corner of the map and the other 11.5 cm. horizontally south from the same corner, the Pleven City is located. The Ottoman units and fortification are around Pleven and they are encircled by the Russian ones. In some places below the Russian fortification, "Russian Army " appears in writing.
At the north - west corners of the maps, within a crescent, "Pleven arıd its fortification, 1294 (1878)" is written; and at the north- east corners.
Rhodes Island
Rhodes Island is on 36° north lattitude and in between 6 -26° east longtitude and has a surface of 1100 km2 Its existing population is around 4000, half of which is estimated to be muslim and the remaining from various nations. Its soil is fertile and productive. The center of its administration is the Rhodes city.
In the south-west of the map there is a nice small relief model of the Hanya Castle and in the south- east the same of the Castle of Rhodes on this island. In the center of the south edge of the map there is an Ottoman coat of arms, and the writing within it reads: "Printed at the Army War School and then converted to a relief map covering the famous Crete and Rhodes Islands, by Lieutenant Halil (Halil İbrahim Bey), Assistant instructor of Restricted Terrain Gesson. In 1301 (1885) ". Under this coat of arms the names of the important places in the map are listed according to the given numbers.
Its inner frame of 6 cm. width is ornamented and has an outer frame of 12 cm. width, of which the corners are carved gypsum on wooden base in gold gilt and original. It has a glass protecting cover. At the four corners of the inner frame there are crescent shapes of carved wood. A frame with similar crescent shapes is used also for the map of "Theselia Region " existing at the Army War School.
General Command of Mapping Cartography Museum. Ankara Year 1883, Scale 1/250.000. 78.5x119.5 Dimensions.
Within a frame in the south-east corner of the map there is a linear scale ( 50 75 100 kilometer scale) and under it the writing "Ottoman Europe ". At the bottom of this writing there are the names of its makers in the below arrangement:
Meliha Firdevs Student Mürşide Mihriban Naime Nuriye Culture Hatice Hüveyla Your Odalisgues House 1399 Your Odalisgues
(1903)
The needlework map is placed on silk velvet in brown colour overlaying 10 cm. at the upper and lower edges end 8 cm. at the right and left edges, appearing also as a frame. The size of the silk velvet is 85 x 121 centimeters. On the upper edge of the velvet a wooden piece gilded hanger is placed and there is also a cylindrical bass weight hanger at its lower edge. In the center of the upper hanger there is a metal crescent shaped like oak branches in which an Ottoman coat of arms is placed with a monogram of Sultan Abdülhamid on top. Besides its beauty and originality it is also thought to be a historical document from which lessons must be taken, as it shows the territories lost in the twenty years between 1903 - 1923.
Command of Military Museum and Culture Site. İstanbul Archive Nr. 807, Year 1903, 65x104 Dimensions.
- Ionia
Phokaia (Eski Foça - Foça)
Klazomenai
Erythrai (Ildırı)
Lebedos (Kısık Yarımadası)
Teos (Seferihisar)
Kolophon and Notion (Değirmendere ve Ahmetbeyli)
Ephesos (Efes, Selçuk)
Priene (Güllübahçe - Söke)
Myus (Avşar Kalesi)
Miletus (Balat, Akköy)
Didyma (Didim, Yoran, Yeniköy)
- Lydia
Sardis (Sart )
Tripolis
- Karia
Alabanda (Araphisar)
Alinda (Kapruzlu)
Amyzon
Aphrodisias (Geyre)
Gerga
Nysa (Sultanhisar)
Orthosia
Piginda
Tralleis (Aydın)
Herakleia Salbake
Halikarnasos (Bodrum)
Labranda (Labraunda)
Iasos (Kıyı Kışlacık Asin Kale, Asin Kurin)
- Lycia
Xanthos (Kınık)
Letoon - Letoum (Bohsullu, Bozoluk)
Patara (Gelemiş, Ovagelemiş, Kelemiş)
Pınara (Minareköy)
Tlos (Kaleasar)
Cadyanda - Kadyanda (Üzümlü)
Sidyma (Dodurga Asarı)
Telmessos (Fethiye)
Myra (Demre, Kale)
Myra - St. Nichola Church
Andriace (Çayağzı)
Sura
Cyaneae - Kyaneae (Yavi / Yuva Köyü)
Trysa
Istlada (Kapaklı)
Apollonia (Kılınçlar)
Isinda (Belenli)
Aperlai (Sıçak İskelesi)
Simena (Kale)
Theimussa (Kale İskelesi - Üçağız)
Dolichiste (Kekova Island)
Phellos (Pınarbaşı)
Antiphellos (Kaş)
Nisa (Meryemlik)
Kalamaki (Kalkan)
Phaselis (Tekirova)
Olympos (Çıralı, Yanartaş, Deliktaş)
Rhodiapolis (Şeyhköy)
Corydalla (Kumluca)
Limyra (Zenzerler, Turunçova)
Arycanda (Arif, Aykırçay)
- Pisidia
Termessos
Ariassos
Selge
Antiocheia (Yalvaç)
Adada
- Pamphylia
Attaleia
Perge
Sillyon
Aspendos
Side
Coracesium (Alanya)
Hamaxia
- Kilikya
Dağlık
Selinus
Iotape
Syedra
Laertes
Anavarza
- Phrygia
Gordion (Yassıhöyük)
Midas City (Phryg Yazılıkayası)
Pessinus (Ballıhisar, Balaköy)
Ankyra (Ankara)
Aizanoi - Aezani (Çavdarhisar)
Colossae
- Magnesia Ad Meandrum (Menderes Magnesia'sı) (Ortaklar- Tekkeköy)
- Klaros
- Laodikea (Laodiceia Ad Lycum) (Goncalı)
- Hattusaş (Boğazkale, Boğazköy)
- Yazılıkaya
- Alacahöyük
- Çatal Höyük
- Kanesh (Kültepe)
- Karatepe
* Phokaia
* Klazomenai
* Kolophon and Notion
* Ephesos
* Myus
* Sardis
* Tripolis
* Alabanda
* Alinda
* Amyzon
* Gerga
* Nysa
* Orthosia
* Piginda
* Tralleis
* Herakleia Salbake
* Labranda
* Pisidia
* Hamaxia
* Dağlık
* Selinus
* Iotape
* Syedra
* Laertes
* Anavarza
* Colossae
* Magnesia Ad Meandrum
* Klaros
* Laodikea
* Hattusaş
* Yazılıkaya
* Alacahöyük
* Adada
* Aizanoi Ancient City
* Claros
* Alacahöyük
* Çatalhöyük
* Ancient Civilizations, Ancient Cities
* Fortresses, Castles
* Palaces, Pavillions, Mansions, Residences
* Religious Monuments
* Thelogical Schools, Hospitals, Alm's Houses,Baths
* Inns, Shops, Bazaars
* Sacred Places, Sacred, Objects, Convents
* Tombs, Vaults, Mausoleums
* Bridges, Water Arches, Cisterns, Reservoirs
* Fountains, Pools
* Bird Houses
* Mosaics, Miniatures, Leather Arts
* Calligraphs, Gildins, Paper Engravings
* Marblings, Maps, Binderies
* Art of Glass, Glazed Tiles
* Stobe Engravings, Decorations, Metal Art and Jewellery
* Wood Engravings, Mother of Pearl Embedding, Pencil Work
* Carpets and Rugs
* Clothes, Textiles, Embroidery and Pinking
- TURKEY ON WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Turkey has signed the World Heritage Convention in 1983 and through the work carried out under the responsibility of the General Directorate for the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage has so far registered 9 locations on the World heritage List. Among these İstanbul, Safranbolu, Boğazköy-Hattushash, Mt. Nemrut Remains, Xanthos-Lethoon, Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital and Troy are registered as cultural, while Pamukkale and Göreme-Cappadocia are registered both as cultural and natural heritage.
Turkey has seen many civilizations beginning from the earliest ages of humanity, signs of which are spread all around the country. The spectular examples of natural wonders support this rich cultural heritage.
Besides the incredible diversity of nature, culture, history Turkey hosts many beliefs, philosopy and ideas.
When one thinks about this irreplaceable and incomparable civilizations and nature of Turkey, he can see that this huge possesion is not throughly reflected in the world heritage list.
Turkey having ratified the World Heritage Convention, 7 cultural and 2 mixed properties are inscribed in the world heritage list.
In 1999 a dossier for nomination of Ephesus was sent to the World Heritage Center. We look forward for assesment of our dossier and expect the visits of experts for evaluation of Ephesus as a world herigate.
There is only Karain Cave left in our current tentative list. The works for preparing the dossier for nomination of Karain is ongoing. Karain is outstanding because of the evidence it provides for early human settlement in Asia Minor, is an unique example of prehistory. As soon as the dossier is completed it will be sent to the World Heritage Center for nomination.
A new tentative list for the world heritage for Turkey is essential. Acknowledging the need for a representative, balanced and a credible world heritage list, Turkey is presenting this new tentative list. While preparing this list Turkey considered the concept of “Global Strategy” and tried to achieve a more representative and balanced list. Inscribtion of 9 properties in the list may be sufficient for many countries, but it is not representative for a country like Turkey.
Following the criteria for Operational Guidelines for Implemantation of World Heritage Convention 19 properties are presented in our new tentative list.
Relation ships between world cultures, spirituality of sites, nomadism and migration, routes for people and goods, different modes of occupation of land, cultural landscapes, traditional life styles and settlements are all taken into account.
The economic, social, symbolic and philosophical dimensions of traditional settlements, their interaction with the nature are also considered
* Knowing that the Turkish-Ottoman, rural and urban architecture and traditional life styles are under-represented in the current list, Bursa and Cumalıkızık are presented in the new list,which also show the dynamic nature of settlements.
* In order to reflect, moslem religious architecture of Ottoman period Süleymaniye and Selimiye are also listed. Süleymaniye and Ayasofya are in the historic quarter of Istanbul, but being-outstanding examples of religious architecture of all times we believe they should take their places individually in the world heritage list. This is true for Topkapı Palace, too. Owing to its uniqueness it should be an inscribed world heritage with its own name.
* Caravanserai Route starting from Denizli, ending in Doğubeyazıt “door to Iranian caravanserai rounte”- is a unique example for acultural landscape. Mardin is also an attractive example for a cultural landscape.
* Arts, architecture and religious beliefs of Seljuk Turks are introduced with Konya and Alanya which are the outstanding examples of that period. Hans, caravanserais and Ahlat monumental tombstones will be the examples of art of stone carving, faith and life styles of that period too. Turkey is a country where several religions and beliefs were emerged and many faith sites are seated. This is also taken into account Sümela and Alahan Monasteries, St. Nicholas Church, Harran and Şanlıurfa, settlements, Mardin and St. Paul are the examples of this appoach. They all carry different spiritual values belong to different periods and have architectural values.
* Kekova and Termessos are presented in the list considering their spectacular natural setting and the relation of man-made environment with these natural sites.
* Diyarbakır historic city and surronding walls and the Ishakpasa Palaces are the other examples of a blend of cultural and architectural styles.
In summary in the presented tentative list, there are 2 natural sites, 2 cultural landscapes and 15 cultural sites. We plan to enlarge this list and add some other properties which are never listed.
Turkey hopes to participate more in world heritage activities and closed the gap occurred in the time span. As a responsible State Party the obligations of the convention will always be follewed respectfully.
TENTATIVE LIST
* 1) Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex
* 2) Ayasofya (Hagia Sofia)
* 3) Topkapı Palace and the Archeological Museum
* 4) Sümela Monastery
* 5) Alahan Monastery
* 6) Church of St. Nicholas
* 7) Harran and Şanlıurfa Settlements
* 8) The tombstones, Urartian and Ottoman citadels of Ahlat
* 9) The citadel and the walls of Diyarbakır
* 10) Seljuk Caravanserais on the route from Denizli to Doğubeyazıt
* 11) Konya-A capital of Seljuk Civilization
* 12) Alanya the fortress and the dockyards
* 13) Mardin cultural landscape
* 14) Bursa and Cumalıkızık Early Ottoman urban and rural settlements
* 15) Edirne Selimiye Mosque
* 16) St. Paul Church, St. Paul’s Well and surrounding historic quarters
* 17) Ishakpaşa Palace
* 18) Kekova
* 19) Güllük Dağı-Termessos National Park
A COMMON HERITAGE
European Council Campaign
September 1999 - September 2000
Preface
"Europe: a Common Heritage" Campaign
The cultural and natural heritage campaign launched by the Council of Europe is aiming to emphasize the contribution of the cultural heritage, rich in its diversity for promoting par1iamcntary democracy in Europe.
"Europe a Common Heritage" campaign has been launched with an opening ceremony on 11 September 1999 in Bucharest.
According to the decision taken during the Second Summit Meeting in Strasbourg on 10-11 October l997 of the Council of Europe, 41 member countries together with 6 others which have signed the European Cultural convention (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Armenia, Monaco and the Holy See) participate in the campaign.
The campaign will serve to the purpose of encouraging, and promoting mutual understanding and dialogue between societies of Europe, with a view to continue building a Europe based on a common heritage represented not only by material but also intellectual, spiritual and moral values.
The campaign which will last for one year, eneOr1JraS5e' various national, regional and transnational projects suet as prominent religious sites, ancient universities route decorative arts workshops, etc.
Co-organized by the Council of Europe and the EU
the campaign will also be joined in by the OECD, UNESCO, Institute of Cultural Routes of Europe in Luxembourg, European Foundation for Heritage Skills as well as various companies, associations and foundations.
1. "Ottoman Contours - Ottoman Colors" (Documentary) (TRT)
2. A case study of Rural Development in Eastern Anatolia: ”Preventing the Extinction of Chestnut Trees and Increasing the Quality of Chestnut Production” (ÇEKÜL Foundation)
3. Protection of Çatalca/Istanbul Forest: “Yadiağaç Forests”: Ministry of Forestry, ÇEKÜL Foundation.
4. Architect Sinan Exhibition in Anatolian Architectural Tradition: Ministry of Culture.
5. “7 Regions, 7 Cities” From the Ottomans to the Armistice Mudanya Panel and Exhibition: ÇEKÜL Foundation, Istanbul Stock Exchange, Mudanya Municipality.
6. "From 1000 Anatolian Women to 1000 European Women": (GESAV)
7. "Golden Letters": Ottoman Art of Calligraphy from Sakıp Sabancı's private collection: Louvre Museum, Sabancı University.
8. “Ottoman Civilization” (a book by the Ministry of Culture)
9. TEMA Vehbi Koç Nature and Culture Center/Kavacık Park Project: (TEMA Foundation)
10. "50.000 greetings to European Children": (GESAV)
11. "The Anatolian Memory": (GESAV)
12. Exhibition of the Portraits of Ottoman Sultans: (Ministry of Culture, İşBank)
13. Symposium on the Ottoman-Turkish Architectural Works: Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History.
14. "Polonezköy: Friendship reinforced by History“ Culture and Arts Summer Activities: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the republic of Poland, Polonezköy District Authority.
15. Role of Troia in the East - West Interaction: (a conference by the Ministry of Culture)
16. Traditional Turkish Handicrafts Summer Cources: (Ministry of Culture)
17. Cultural Heritage Documentary Film Show: (Ministry of Culture)
18. Ottoman - European Relations: (Documentary) (TRT)
19. Towns under protection (Tokat) “Road connecting Seljukis to the Ottomans” Panel and Exhibition
20. “Homage to Sinan”, Excursion and Exhibition: (Ministry of Culture, Chamber of Architects, ÇEKÜL Foundation)
21. Struggle against Soil Erosion: “Let’s Save 77 m2 soil”: (ÇEKÜL Foundation)
22. Joint exhibition of traditional Turkish costumes, jewellery and decorative arts. (Ministry of Culture)
A Campaign Born Out of Summits
The idea that Europe has a common cultural heritage has been elicited in the Final Declaration of the Council of Europe's First Summit Meeting in Vienna in 1993 as follows:
"A common cultural heritage enriched by its diversity"
The Second Summit Meeting of the Council of Europe on 10-11 October 1997 has provided an opportunity to define the tasks and priorities that the Council of Europe should take into account ir1 the future in the fields of fundamental values of democracy and cultural diversity The Summit has decided to highlight the following as the common values of Europe:
- Citizenship education within democratic system.
- The exposition and protection of Europe's Common Heritage.
- New information technologies
In the Final Declaration of the Second Summit, Heads of States and Governments have declared that;
"The projection and promotion of the cultural and natural heritage of Europe is considered to be an important priority."
Objectives of the Campaign
- Aiming to building a Europe based on mutual respect, understanding, dialog, peace and democracy;
- Enhancing awareness of cultural, natural and historical heritage;
- Developing cooperation among nations on the basis of respect for cultural diversity;
- Promoting movable and immovable properties of cultural and natural heritage like archaeological sites, monuments, landscape and environment, as well as cultural, social, traditional, moral and spiritual values;
Projects of the Council of Europe
1) Religious sites;
- Demre St Nicholas Cultural Activities Ministry of Tourism, St Nicholas Foundation
- Documentary on Centres of Faith in Anatolia (TRT)
- Tarsus St Paul 2000. Religions in an Age of Faith and Tolerance (Chairmanship of Religious Affairs)
2) Sibiu, a crossroads in Europe (Ministry of Culture)
3) Tourism and Travel (Ministry of Tourism)
4) European Landscape Prize(Ministry of Culture)
5) European Association of Historical Towns (Bursa Metropolitan Municipality)
6) International Photography Competition (Ministry of Culture)
7) Cultural Heritage Days (Ministry of Culture)
8) Ancient Universities Route (Istanbul University)
9) Decorative Arts Workshops in Europe (Kütahya Porcelain)
10) European Panorama of Musical Heritage:
- From Hitites to modern times: Music and musical Instruments in Anatolia (Ministry of Culture)
- Interaction of Turkish and European music (Ministry of Culture)
- Music Museum (Ministry of Culture)
11) Cinema and European Common Heritage
- Cultural and Natural Heritage of Anatolia (Documentary) (Ministry of Culture)
12) Heritage Festival:
639th Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Championship (Edirne Municipality)
- İzmir International Traditional Theatre festival (Ministry of Culture Aegean University, UNİMA)
- Isparta Rug Kilim and Rose Festival (Isparta Municipality)
- Southeastern Anatolia Handicrafts Festival (Ministry of Tourism)
- Bursa Karagöz Theatre Festival (Bursa Culture and Arts Foundation)
- Artvin Culture, Tourism and Arts Festival (Artvin Municipality)
- Kayseri Hıdırellez, Summer Festival (Kayseri Municipality)
- Trabzon International Theatre Studios Gathering (Ministry of Culture TOBAV, ITI Turkish Center)
13) Wooden houses in Europe (Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Safranbolu Municipality, Cumalıkızık District Authority, Building and Industry Centre)
14) Industrial Heritage (Zonguldak Municipality, Rahmi Koç Industry Museum)
Characteristics of the International and Interregional Projects
According to criterias defined in pursuance of the goals and objectives of the campaign, the following will be put into practice:
- Projects that highlight the outcome of an artistic exchange of ideas, persons, experience or materials and the result of convergence or similarity between Europe's cultures or cultural landscapes;
- Projects which high1ight the lesser known aspects of cultural heritage;
- Project, which illustrate traditional or more recent cultures respecting biological and landscape diversity;
- Projects encouraging the mobilization of public and private partners;
- Projects heightening the awareness, of the public at large;
- Projects that should whenever possible delienate innovative types or approaches of heritage promotion
Consequently, the following aims will he pursued:
- Illustration of the international exchange of knowledge, Skills or techniques;
- Creation, extension and enhancement of the Council of Europe's cultural routes
- Creation or strengthening of transnational networks
What is Cultural Heritage?
Cultural heritage is the accumulation of tangible and intangible values stemming from human creativity and interaction between societies, since the beginning of human life on earth
What is Natural Heritage?
Natural heritage is a combination of natural beauties and biological diversity enriched by aesthetical, cultural, scientific and economic elements
Goals of the Campaign
. Informing sponsors and public institutions about the objectives of the campaign;
. Emphasizing human factor to attain social cohesion
. Establishing international networks between individuals and institutions working in the field of common heritage
. Publicizing and promoting the work done in this field by the Council of Europe and share the outcome of these works with the new member countries of the Council;
. Enhancing the cultural and natural values of the common heritage;
. Enriching education on common heritage to instill a sense of responsibility among future generations to maintain and promote the cultural identity of Europe
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