At least three giant tumuli were recently destroyed by illegal looting activity involving use of heavy mechanised equipment in the province of Kastamonu, northern Turkey. Mechanical diggers dug through tumuli near the village of Alpagut leaving a trail of destruction.

The tumuli near the village of Alpagut are ancient masonry tombs hidden within mounds. The region in question contains numerous burial mounds of this kind, dated to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Looters used mechanical diggers to dig through the side of the mounds in order to reach the burial chambers. As the authorities say, the destruction must have occurred not later than last week. The director of the Kastamonu Arkeoloji Müzesi (Kastamonu Archaeological Museum) reported the destruction of the archaeological sites to Police, who is currently looking for the looters.

(after Kastamonu Gazetesi)