New Approaches toward Recording, Preserving and Studying Cultural Heritage in Divided Cyprus: Problems and Opportunities

In the last 50 years, only a few books concerning the cultural heritage and archaeology of Northern Cyprus have been published by Turkish Cypriots. This volume is one of those rare publications. It stands out in its emphasis on the unheard voices of Turkish Cypriot academics working in their homeland: the unrecognized north part of the island, which has been under an international embargo since 1974.Embargoes and sanctions are effective tools in the short term. However, in North Cyprus, the negative effects on cultural heritage, archaeology, and professionals in these fields have been demoralizing. This book demonstrates, from both an academic and humanitarian point of view, how the status quo has caused destruction of cultural heritage and archaeological sites on the island and how the division of the island has negatively affected the professional behavior and ethics of academics and archaeologists. As the volume shows, the archaeology and cultural heritage that has been used to blame and reject the other can in fact become a key tool for peace making. As we enter the fiftieth anniversary of the division of the island—the length of a lifetime—we are more aware than ever that new avenues of listening, reconciliation, and cooperation should be tried. The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) and the Commission of Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) are currently laying the pathways toward cooperative efforts to study and salvage the island’s archaeological and cultural heritage.The publication under review is the outcome of a conference held in September 2019 at Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) in Kyrenia, Cyprus. The book opens with an appropriate dedication to Dr. Rıza Tuncel, a Turkish Cypriot archaeologist whose exceptional peace-seeking personality was an inspiration to all his Cypriot, Greek, and Turkish friends and colleagues.The volume’s twenty-five contributors include prominent scholars with personal experience working in Cyprus, expertise in Cypriot material culture, or a deep interest in protecting the island’s cultural heritage. Brought together from various countries and with backgrounds in international law, building conservation, archaeology, architecture, art history, and history, the authors provide valuable perspectives on the study and documentation of heritage in conflict zones as well as the difficulties of protecting cultural heritage in the present political climate. The book maintains a persistent positivity as it seeks ways to foster cooperation between the divided island’s scholars.The volume is well-organized into three sections, as the introduction outlines. The first section, which the editors entitle “Conflicted Heritage of Cyprus between Laws and Ethics” (11), opens with an article on international laws on heritage and archaeology in conflict zones by Alexander Gillespie. Gillespie’s unbiased and skillful approach explains the history of Cyprus’s disputed heritage under international law, covering developments from the Hague Convention of 1899 until today and clarifying the responsibilities of Cyprus and Turkey within these resolutions. He goes one step further than previously published articles on the subject and offers valuable suggestions for reconciliation around the delicate subjects of cultural heritage, archaeological excavations, and their protection (28). The author proposes either reforming TCCH or setting up another commission composed of members from both Cypriot communities plus a member appointed by UNESCO: “Leadership within this group should not only be balanced but also needs to be oriented towards cultural heritage professionals (who ideally will be neutral and speak on behalf of the values and needs to protect cultural property, irrespective of where it is located in Cyprus), and where possible women” (29). This committee could create an inventory of lost and damaged sites for the whole island and impose high standards for archaeological work.In the next article, Lâtife Summerer flawlessly synthesizes important information on the historical reasons behind Turkish Cypriots’ relatively late involvement in archaeology. The challenges archaeologists working in the north have faced during the last fifty years of practice are described: these include the blacklisting of archaeologists, questioning the legality of their archaeological fieldwork, and refusal to mention or include their publications in bibliographical references, simply pretending the work never existed. On a more positive note, Summerer describes the formation of collaborative committees like CMP and TCCH. Many readers will be surprised to learn how early cooperative attempts failed between Turkey and Cyprus soon after the division of the island: regrettably, a missed opportunity. In the third article in this section, Hazar Kaba describes his personal experiences studying the rescued Soloi tomb contents and how he was rejected from an international conference where he simply wanted to share the new information. As he looks deeper into rejection, ethics, controversies, and paradoxes, he speaks for many other Turkish Cypriots who have frequently had similar experiences. Over the years, many Turkish Cypriot archaeologists have had their submissions rejected for publication or boycotted after publication. In recent cases, editors of prestigious series have refused to include articles published by Turkish Cypriot archaeologists in references—even if it means that the series is incomplete without the information from the north. The international community regards North Cyprus as under occupation and permits or licenses issued by the TRNC are not recognized. This situation causes major problems for Turkish Cypriot archaeologists due to lack of communication and collaboration with the south. It is puzzling yet welcoming to see that, as long as North Cyprus is not mentioned, archaeologists from Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus do collaborate, present papers in each other’s countries, and work together.Dimitris Michalopoulos, in a thought-provoking article, takes us on a historical journey from 1192 to the nineteenth century, through the 1940s and 1950s, and culminating in the events of 1974. He describes how certain personas and events from the island’s past paved the way to today’s political conflicts, to the detriment of the island. His conclusion advocates for the study and preservation of monuments under the aegis of an internationally recognized institution; further irretrievable losses will benefit no one. The last two papers in this section are authored by Naciye Doratlı and Ali Tuncay, both of whom have served in bicommunal projects and committees dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the island. Those who are interested in reading more on the first bicommunal project, the Nicosia Master Plan (a common planning strategy for the divided capital of Nicosia), and the TCCH will be satisfied with Naciye Doratlı’s chapter, as all is described in detail. The writer takes a further step and investigates the varieties of power—particularly the soft power of management—applied to and within these bicommunal committees. Ali Tuncay’s contribution is significant in several ways. He is the longest serving TCCH member and was a European Citizen’s Prize winner in 2015, jointly with Takis Hadjidemetriou. Tuncay describes the formation of the technical committee, its mission, and its outcomes. He discusses project types, selection processes, finances, and self-funding programs; the establishment of heritage youth ambassadors; and the rehabilitation of cemeteries and movable cultural heritage, with the Kyrenia Ship as an example. His “Achievement and Obstacles” (170) subsection points out both that cooperation over antiquities smuggling has failed to materialize but also that the TCCH has evolved to becoming an exemplary model for other conflict zones, such as Moldova or Kosovo. Tuncay concludes by pointing to collaborative projects with international financial aid where the TCCH can act as the implementor, indicating that all is in place to test new projects beyond just the conservation and restoration of historic monuments.The second section of the book contains three articles dedicated to the topic of presentation and preservation of cultural heritage. The first two articles by Leticia Rodriguez and Marie-Louise Winbladh address how Cypriot artifacts can be used to create meaning in society. Both articles look at finds from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition excavations of the early twentieth century. While Rodriguez considers the production of modern replicas of ancient artifacts and how these can raise awareness of repatriation, Windbladh touches on the importance of environmental control in museum exhibitions and general curatorial problems. She looks at examples from museums in North Cyprus, the British Museum, and the Cypriot collections in the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden. The articles highlight an important subject: how to preserve, present, and share excavated materials in museums to raise public awareness. The last article in this section, by Reyhan Sabri, skillfully presents a critical evaluation of legislative, structural, and practical issues of post-1974 architectural conservation in North Cyprus.The third and final section of the book covers a “wide chronological span, ranging from the second millennium BC to modernity” (11). Ekin Kozal and Deniz Yaşin’s article studies Anatolian and Cypriot relations through distributions of Late Bronze Age Cypriot White Slip ware found at Tepebağ Höyük in Turkey. Although Cyprus and Anatolia are so close geographically, there is an unfortunate lack of in-depth studies of their archaeological connections from the Neolithic onward. The political situation in North Cyprus seems to prevent researchers from looking at the region’s connections to the Turkish coast.The second archaeological study in this section is written by Marko Kiessel, whose dedication to island research has yielded important findings at Aphendrika, one of the many significant sites in the Karpas Peninsula. Despite isolation and lack of funding, Keissel’s is one of three successful archaeological projects conducted in the north part of the island. His article on Aphendrika demonstrates how large amounts of data can be collated from analysis of aerial imagery and survey without excavation. In 2020, emergency conservation works were carried out at Aphendrika by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and TCCH with EU funding. The three churches and the surrounding settlement were part of a conservation project that included new on-site information panels. The site was opened to the public after vegetation clearance and restoration. This article highlights the potential capacity of the UNDP and TCCH to coordinate collaborative archaeological projects under their international umbrella.Alessandro Camiz, Zeynep Ceylanlı, and Giorgio Verdiani join forces in the next article on using modern methods for digital survey and documentation of Kyrenia Castle. The authors have turned this documentation project into an opportunity for international student training: students learn new methods while simultaneously providing valuable documentation and research outcomes. This article may inspire other projects to bring together youth from the two Cypriot communities to collaborate while learning about their common heritage.In the next article, Christopher S. Lightfoot displays his expert knowledge on the manufacture of Roman terracotta lamps. He explores various analyses and techniques that can diagnose their uses, styles, chronology, and evolution. His methods are particularly valuable for collections where the origin, provenance, date, and contexts of artifacts are unknown. Lâtife Summerer’s historical survey of the Panagia tis Kyras church offers the reader its history without censorship. She openly describes the trafficking of antiquities from the north by infamous Aydin Dikmen, an international antiquities robber. In her research, she has left no stone unturned, with rich attention to detail, analyzing all available evidence about this gem of a single-nave church, which was conserved by UNDP and TCCH in 2021–2022. Summerer brings an important point to our attention, the general problem of failure of maintenance after the completion of UNDP’s conservation works. The Turkish Cypriot Department of Antiquities and Museums is held responsible; their lack of personnel, specialists, funds, and equipment is alarming.Thomas Kaffenberger’s article is an informative analysis of Cypriot church architecture spanning the eighth to the sixteenth centuries. He presents five case studies from the Karpas Peninsula, drawing attention to the urgent need to document and interpret these threatened and lesser-known ruins. He calls for archaeological investigations to increase our understanding of these and the many other ruined churches in Karpasia. Next, Michael Walsh looks at fourteenth-century “intangible heritage” through digital reconstruction. He successfully demonstrates how digital applications and IT can play an important role in reconstructing colors, sounds, and even emotions, moving beyond the traditional norms of historical restoration and taking the reader past the historic monument’s cold stone.Aliye Menteş and Valentina Donà present a critical review of the neglected cinemas of north Nicosia through comparison with examples of successful revitalization projects in south Cyprus. Bertuğ Özarısoy and Haşim Altan look at the buffer zone, developing a theory of futuristic design that incorporates creative possibilities and a utopian urban vision for Nicosia. The final article by Yannis Polymenidis, Konstantinos Lalenis, and Evi Kolovou studies the importance of cemeteries for both the memory and the culture of any society. Although the article is about a cemetery in Greece, they offer more than just solidarity to their colleagues and co-authors in this volume. Readers will make the connection between the site their article discusses and the neglected cemeteries of both communities in Cyprus. Cemeteries form an important part of both communities’ cultural identity, reflecting their beliefs and individual and group history; some have recently been restored by UNDP and TCCH as Tuncay mentions in his contribution to the volume (167–68).The book offers valuable personal experiences, detailed research, and extensive bibliographic references within each article. Chapters are well written and organized in as reasonable a manner as possible. It is unfortunate that many significant Greek Cypriot contributors to the conference did not contribute to the publication. Instead, as the editors explain, other academics were invited to contribute. Thus, some of the articles seem a little distant from the focus of the conference, although they do contribute to the wider topic of Cypriot heritage. Some of the published plates would have benefited from enlargement to provide clarity. However, these issues do not overshadow the important reminders that the volume provides of the urgent need for change in the field of Cypriot archaeology.In summary, New Approaches toward Recording, Preserving and Studying Cultural Heritage in Divided Cyprus offers food for thought regarding the experience of Turkish Cypriot professionals and the difficulties they face, and the book impresses upon its readers the effects of the stagnant situation in conflict zones if resolutions are not reached. Editors and authors offer a valuable contribution to Cypriot studies for those interested in the Mediterranean region, conflict zones, and international law. Readers will find this rich book useful and will certainly ask themselves: What will be the next step for Cypriots? The book clearly emphasizes that for Cyprus, there is no future without the past.