Anemurium ancient city... Have you ever heard of it?

Located on the eastern slopes of Anamur Cape, the southernmost point of Turkiye, little is definitively known about the history of Anemurium. However, written sources suggest the city was founded around the 4th century BCE.

The ancient city gained recognition in the 19th century through the explorations of Colonel Francis Beaufort of the British Navy. The city’s name appears on a list of ports, indicating its existence as early as the 4th century BCE, possibly even earlier. Anemurium, part of the Commagene Kingdom, began to flourish in the 1st century CE, during which coins bearing the image of King Antiochus IV were minted. The city’s surrounding walls were constructed during this period.

One of the most iconic spots in this ancient city is where it meets the sea, where some ruins are submerged. This site, located in front of a palace complex still under excavation, is one of the most photographed places by both local and international tourists.

However, a controversial development has emerged. In an area filled with carob trees, a concrete structure—likely unauthorized and against conservation regulations—was being built. Cumhuriyet newspaper brought the issue to light on July 2nd with the headline, "Concrete in the Ancient City." This construction is taking place near a 2,000-year-old church within the first-degree archaeological site of Anemurium.

The excavation work has been sponsored by the Yücelen Foundation.

According to the project, the site will include main circulation routes, terraces, rest areas, and directional and informational signage.

Additionally, the project proposes the development of visitor service units in two phases. The first phase includes more comprehensive facilities such as souvenir shops, ticket offices, security checkpoints, and restrooms.

In essence, under the guise of a security entrance unit, a concrete structure with stone-clad walls and ceramic flooring has been permitted.

Moreover, they plan to build a cafeteria in an area designated for social amenities.

Remarkably, all these developments are taking place on a 2,400-year-old first-degree archaeological site.

A technical report prepared for the Adana Directorate of Surveying and Monuments states:

"Due to the discovery of structural traces during the excavation, it is planned to relocate the entrance security buildings toward the area initially intended for a parking lot, and to remove the parking lot from this area."

The report continues:

"Due to the necessity of constructing vertical and horizontal reinforced concrete beams for masonry structures under the Turkish Earthquake Building Code, the originally designed structure is not feasible. The buildings have been resolved as a reinforced concrete system, with the concrete columns concealed between stone walls."

In other words, they are proceeding with construction despite the obvious violations. If you visit ancient sites like Ephesus, Knidos, or the ruins of Sardis, you will notice that similar entrance structures are prefabricated and placed on elevated platforms.

The Mersin Environmental and Nature Conservation Association (MERÇED) Anamur representative shared a photo of the site, which was subsequently published in newspapers. Following this, construction was halted.

But was a tender held?

In 2015, a tender was issued for the "Preparation of the Mersin Anemurium Archaeological Site Project," and Revzen Architecture prepared the project for 219,000 TL (tender registration number 2015/113096).

Years have passed...

On January 18, 2024, the Mersin Investment Monitoring and Coordination Department held a tender under the name "Anemurium Ancient City Landscaping Project." The contract was awarded to Tuba Construction Company for 30,768,000 TL.

According to the Trade Registry Gazette, the owners of Tuba Construction are Taha Erim and Muzaffer Erim. On that date, Furkan Erim transferred his shares to Taha Erim.

Furkan Erim’s father, Mustafa Erim, is a historian and the founder of the Mersin City History Museum. Even Mahir Ünal, Governor Özdemir Çakacak, and AKP Provincial President Cesim Ercik attended Furkan Erim’s wedding in 2017.

Perhaps Mustafa Erim and Furkan Erim are qualified individuals in the field of art history. They might even have a global perspective on art and history that befits world citizenship.

But if they are engaging in such cronyism, I doubt it. That’s not the issue anyway. The issue is that even a 2,400-year-old ancient city is seen as a gateway to profit.

This mindset of profiteering is precisely why the economy and the country are in their current state.