7.10.2025
5 Dakika
For thousands of years, Anatolia has been home to countless civilizations. Its significance lies not only in its monuments and artifacts but also in the stories it carries, stories that make it an irreplaceable part of humanity’s collective memory. Each excavation, each archaeological find brings these stories back to life, reminding us of this land’s past.
Yet over time, pieces of this heritage have been uprooted, taken abroad, stripped from their historical context, and their stories lost to silence. In recent years, however, long and determined efforts have begun to bring them back. Thanks to the diligent work led by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, more than 13,000 cultural artifacts have returned to Türkiye since 2002. With them, the memories, scientific data, and artistic value associated with them also returned to the land to which they belonged.
As important as recovery is, the key point here is preventive measures. At this point, one of the important tools used internationally to prevent cultural property trafficking comes to mind: the ICOM Red List.
To protect cultural heritage, it’s crucial to know what we have. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) created the Red List for exactly this reason: it identifies categories of cultural objects at risk of illicit trafficking.
So, what is the Red List and what does it cover? The Red List announces which types of cultural assets in a particular country are at risk of illicit trafficking. In other words, it identifies groups of artifacts that are at risk, not stolen works. In this way, it raises awareness about which artifacts need attention before they disappear or are removed from their context.
Contrary to popular belief, the Red List is not a technical document limited to experts. It speaks to a wide network of people and institutions involved in cultural heritage protection. From customs officers at border checkpoints to auction house professionals, from museum curators to private collectors, it serves as a guide for all.
Imagine a suspicious object in an auction catalog, a fragment noticed at a border crossing, or an artifact on its way into a private collection. In these moments, the Red List provides guidance: “These works have been illegally removed from their countries.” It encourages people to look at an artifact not just as an object but as part of a cultural story and context.
In this way, the Red List becomes more than a professional reference—it is a tool for anyone who values cultural heritage. Protecting heritage is not just a technical duty; it is a collective responsibility.
Cultural heritage is not confined to museum displays or excavation sites. It lives in our memory, existence, and daily lives. And protecting it is not only the job of institutions, it’s a responsibility shared by all of us.
Sometimes it’s the vigilance of a customs officer, the careful eye of an auction expert, or the awareness of an ordinary citizen that ensures an artifact finds its way back home. These small actions, taken together, make a big difference in safeguarding our heritage.
