Artifact from Bronze Age returned to Türkiye after being stolen more than 40 years ago

By Fatih Turkyilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - An artifact that was proven to have been illicitly excavated from the Aegean region of Türkiye in the early 1980s and smuggled out of the country was returned Wednesday via efforts of the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

A rare bronze kline -- a rectangular couch used in ancient Greece and Rome -- dating back to 530 B.C. -- was returned to Türkiye by the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Scientific studies have proven that the historical kline, purchased by a museum in 1982, was illicitly excavated from a grave near Manisa province.

The kline was delivered to the Istanbul Restoration and Conservation Center and Regional Laboratory Directorate, where it was opened and examined by experts.

Conservator and restorer Deniz Nurcan told Anadolu that the kline, which dates to the 6th century B.C., is one of the rare examples of its kind.​​​​​​​

“This is a bronze piece. It is produced with a copper and bronze mesh over an iron skeleton, with cast bronze feet. In this sense, it is rare; we typically don't see such examples,” said Nurcan, who noted that klinas are generally made from stone and wood.

She pointed out that linen fragments adhering to the kline matched precisely with the wooden and bronze plates found by Turkish archaeologists in the grave.

"It is known that it was smuggled abroad in the 1980s. As a result of the joint efforts of Turkish archaeologists and experts from the Getty Museum, the bronze and wooden examples found at the excavation site were matched with the linen fragments on the artifact,

“It was determined that they date to the same period. Thus, it has been established that the artifact is indeed a part of our cultural heritage. The Getty Museum experts sent us a very detailed report. They prepared a meticulous report on the materials and manufacturing techniques. We will first carry out documentation work and conduct our own analyses. We will determine the conservation methods and prepare the artifact for display,” added Nurcan.

- Features of kline

The kline is a type of furniture that is rarely encountered.

Such klinas, seen in historical paintings and depictions in pottery from the Bronze Age, were used for resting and dining.

Constructed on an iron skeleton with cast bronze feet and rails, the kline is made up of perforated copper plates.

With its turned legs, protruding tenons at the corners and a lattice surface supporting the cushions, it represents a bronze example of the wooden klinas that were commonly produced during that era.

With the return of the kline, the number of artifacts returned to Türkiye in 2024 has hit 36.

In the last six years, 7,840 artifacts have been returned to Türkiye, and since 2002, a total of 12,155 artifacts have been repatriated.

*Writing by Esra Tekin