PodcastHeavy machinery used in 'renovation' of ancient bridge in central Turkey
Heavy machinery was used during "renovation" works on an ancient bridge in Sivas. Environmental rights defender Güven İslamoğlu said on Aug. 19 that work had been stopped. The incident follows nationwide controversy surrounding the destruction of ancient walls in Istanbul's Galata Tower.
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The ancient Kız Bridge in central Turkey was taken apart by heavy machinery, daily Cumhuriyet reported on Aug. 19.
Locals reacted to the destruction of the 800-year-old bridge in Sivas' Divriği district and environmental activist Güven İslamoğlu urged that the work be stopped immediately.
"An 800-year-old bridge was almost taken down. Work has been stopped," İslamoğlu tweeted on Aug. 19.
800 yıllık köprü az kalsın gidiyordu. Çalışma duduruldu. https://t.co/8LVV0dioYf
— Güven İslamoğlu (@guvenislamoglu) August 19, 2020
İslamoğlu has initially referred to the destruction of ancient walls in Istanbul's Galata Tower, which has taken up the national agenda since footage was revealed on social media.
"Let's not lose another one of our values that we should be protecting at all cost," İslamoğlu tweeted about Kız Bridge.
The ancient bridge was built over Çaltı Stream by the Seljuq Dynasty that ruled between the 10th and 12th centuries.
Turkey looks back at historical monument renovations that went awry