Gelisim News

While the approximately 300 thousand-year-old Yarimburgaz Cave, which is one of the important historical monuments and cultural assets of Istanbul, turned into a garbage dump, the Church of Saint Polyeuktos dating back 1500 years and Vlora Han, which was built in the 1800s, was damaged due to lack of attention. Cultural Heritage Management Expert Asst. Prof. Dr. İlknur Türkoğlu, who said that historical artifacts should be preserved in order to be transferred to future generations, examined the damaged works on site and answered the questions of DHA. Türkoğlu said: “The important thing here is for the citizen to know and claim his history. Our citizens should think that these buildings are my cultural heritage.”
 
“THE YARIMBURGAZ CAVE IS DOOMED”
 
Providing information about the history and the latest situation of the Yarimburgaz Cave, Cultural Heritage Management Expert Asst. Prof. Dr. Ilknur Turkoglu said: "Yarimburgaz Cave, whose history goes back 300 thousand years, is one of the oldest known settlements in Istanbul. In the 60s, excavations were made in this cave by Istanbul University and it was revealed that people lived here in the paleolithic (Old Stone Age) period. Then it became one of the settlements of people in the Neolithic (Polished Stone Age) period. In the Byzantine period, a small chapel was built inside the Yarimburgaz cave. However, such a historically valuable cave is now abandoned to its fate. Projects related to the cave were wanted to be produced on time. But so far, no project has been realized.”
 
“THE CAVE IS FULL OF TRASH”
 
Stating that the cave is inhabited by thinners, Türkoğlu said: “When we come to the Yarimburgaz Cave, we do not even see an information board. The cave has suffered great damage over the years. It was used for malicious purposes, as it was not known by the citizens. Even today the front of the cave is full of garbage.”
“IT SHOULD HAVE AN INFORMATION BOARDS ON THE ROAD”
 
Calling the citizens, Türkoğlu said: “It is very sad for us that this structure only attracts the attention of treasure hunters. Nowadays, it is very easy to access information. We all have cell phones in our hands. Our citizens can reach publications about Yarimburgaz Cave on their mobile phones. Or at least there should be information signs on the road. In this way, when the citizen comes, he can understand that this place is not an ordinary rock. We have things to do. The public should know the historical value of this building.”
 
“VLORA HAN FULLY COVERED WITH SIGNS, VENTS AND AIR CONDITIONERS”
 
Saying that the situation was not much different in Vlora Han, which was built in the late 1800s, Türkoğlu said: “Vlora Han is one of the most important examples of its period and its kind. It is not known exactly who the architect of the building is. This inn was built as an office building. Our famous architect, architect Kemalettin also has an office in this inn in the early 1900s. But no restoration work has been done on this building for 30 years. This inn is one of the symbolic buildings of Istanbul. When I look at the building, we see that the building is completely covered with signs, vents and air conditioners. The precious decorations on the building were covered by pipes and the building was perforated from many places.”
 
“VLORA HAN'S EXTERIOR MATERIALS ARE VERY VALUABLE”
 
Emphasizing that it is of great importance that the restoration work of Vlora Han is carried out according to scientific rules, Türkoğlu said, “Sirkeci and Eminönü are a place that we can call the heart of Istanbul. Especially the exterior decorations of this Inn are very valuable historically. When our citizens come here even for business, they should look around. Here every building is like a jewel.”
 
“IT BECAME THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE BURNED FIRE AND LEFT THEIR GARBAGE”
 
Saying the following for the St. Pollieuktos Church built in 520, Türkoğlu said: "Our third place, St. Pollieuktos Church, has been destroyed in time. This summer there was a cleaning activity in the church. But we see that this place needs to be taken under protection urgently. Again, this has become the place where people go and sit, make a fire and leave their garbage. Again, an information board should be placed in front of this place for the citizens. Because thousands of people pass by this building every day. But in passing, nobody can get any information about this structure. The important thing here is to know and own the history of the citizen. Our citizens do my heritage, my culture it, saying Turkey's cultural heritage needs to be proud to boast.”
 
MINISTRY: STUDY RELATED TO HISTORICAL WORKS SENT TO AUTHORITIES
 
In a written statement from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, expressed that “the necessary decisions were taken regarding the Yarimburgaz Cave, Vlora Han and the Church of Saint Polyeuktos, and studies were carried out on these historical artifacts and shared with the authorities.”
 
Following the statement, the following statements about Vlora Han, St.Pollieuktos Church Yarımburgaz Cave were given:
 
“The area in the Yarimburgaz Cave was registered as a 1st degree Archaeological Site with the Board decision dated 16.07.1991. With the decisions of the board dated 16.11.2017 and 02.02.2019, it was decided to take the necessary security measures by the relevant persons.With our letter dated 10.11.2020, taking into account the ownership status of the area, in the case of a landscaping project, which parts of the cave can be included in the project, and the coordinated map to be prepared It was requested to be sent to the General Directorate of Assets and Museums. Studies on ensuring the safety of the area and making a landscaping project are still ongoing.
 
The privately owned "Vlora Han" located in Hobyar neighbourhood in Fatih district of Istanbul is located in the "Historical Peninsula Urban and Historical Site Area" determined by the Board decision dated 12.07.1995. In summary, with the letter dated 14.08.2020 of the Istanbul No.4 Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Heritage; It was requested that the issues related to Vlora Han (neglected appearance, ugly signage visuals, etc.) were determined and the necessary life, property and environmental security measures were taken by the relevant persons and the Board Directorate was immediately informed about the work and transactions.
 
With the decision of the Board dated 09.07.2019, it has been decided that the excavations to be carried out in the park of St. Pollieuktos Church will be carried out under the supervision of the relevant Museum Directorate. The aforementioned decision was sent to the Istanbul Governorship Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Fatih Municipality. For the distribution of the decision, it was sent to Fatih Municipality and to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Istanbul 1st Regional Directorate of Foundations.”