Europa Nostra

SAVE ALLIANOI

Important Roman Site in Turkey

If no urgent action is undertaken, the Roman Baths at Allianoi will disappear under the rising waters of an irrigation dam.

Your voice can make a difference!

How?
You can either:

write directly to the Turkish Minister of State Mr Ali Babacan, responsible for EU Relations (click here for a sample letter),

send us an email of support save-allianoi@europanostra.org (with your name, city and country)

List of supporters

Background

The site:

Although first settled earlier, Allianoi was transformed into an important site by a major building programme during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138). The site derives archaeological importance from the fact that a large part of the complex is preserved to a height of two stories. It features a courtyard with six columns and beautiful, well preserved floor mosaics. A second fine colonnaded courtyard belongs to what was probably a healing complex. Archaeologists have also identified a number of installations for the production of glass and pottery, paved streets and a cult site sacred to Demeter. The presence of a thermal bath site in the countryside is a rarity since most Roman baths were situated in towns. A nearby Roman bridge is still in use. The complex has been adjudged a Class A archaeological site.

Click here for more photos of Allianoi

The threat:

In 1994, DSI (Turkish State Hydraulic Works) ordered the construction of zoned earthfill dam on the Ilya River for the creation of an irrigation reservoir to sustain and increase agricultural production in the area. If completed, the reservoir created by the dam will inundate part of the River Ilya Valley including the Roman Spa of Allianoi.

The campaign and proposed alternative:

Throughout Europe, but also in Turkey, protests have been staged against the construction of the dam, but no coordinated action seems to have been initiated to date. Managers of the Allianoi site and the excavation team have coordinated a petition among the visitors of the site. They collected 35,000 signatures calling for the rescue of Allianoi. Of these signatures, 30,000 were from Turkish visitors, stressing the local support for the campaign.

In January 2005, Europa Nostra wrote to the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gül and Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting that the Turkish Government seriously study an alternative location for siting the dam that would save Allianoi AND provide irrigation waters for the agricultural sector. No response to this letter was received.

Europa Nostra has now joined forces with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA). A joint letter (16 September 2005) was addressed to Mr Ali Babacan, Turkish Minister of State for EU Relations, and co-signed by the Presidents of Europa Nostra, ICOMOS and the EAA.
On 20 March 2007 Europa Nostra, again together with the EAA and ICOMOS, appealed to the Turkish government in a joint letter, co-signed by the Presidents of Europa Nostra, the EEA and ICOMOS.

You can help by writing directly to the Turkish Minister of State Mr Ali Babacan, responsible for EU Relations (click here for a sample letter). Please inform us of doing so by copying it to save-allianoi@europanostra.org.

Thank you for your support.