Hi M,

You create the petition, we will care!

But I get your drift - what to say.

Let me get my facts straight:

Allianoi is a globally important ancient site. Because it is a town it is extensive?

There is a plan to dam the area and to submerge Allianoi, without any significant archaeological works in order to salvage the heritage of Allianoi?

Allianoi has been in arid conditions for hundreds of years, submerging it will mean most of the well preserved metalwork will rapidly decay and be lost, in addition, the water will undermine the upstanding buildings and most likely cause a significant loss to the fabric of this ancient city.

What should the petition call for?

You have two choices:

1. put the dam somewhere else, or.

2. Fund em emergency excavations immediately, ideally move large section of the town to a place nearby.

You will need to choose, I recommend option 2, which I think is the most deliverable.

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

I see there is a third option - modify the dam plan so that Allianoi can be preserved.

Tell me, what is the current state of construction and how much of the archaeology will the funding allow to be preserved?

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]

{insert your city and date}

HE Mr Ali Babacan

Minister of State

Secretariat General for EU Relations

Eskisehir Yolu 9.Km

TR-06800 Ankara

TURKEY

info@abgs.gov.tr

Fax +90 312 2860408

Your Excellency,

Roman Baths at Allianoi have to be preserved!

I write to you to add my voice to the campaign against the ongoing construction of the Yortanli Dam on the River Ilya which, once finalised, will flood the valuable Roman Baths at Allianoi, near Bergama in November this year. As a citizen concerned with the preservation of our common European cultural heritage, I fully support Europa Nostra’s appeal to the Turkish Government to relocate the dam to a nearby more suitable location. This international protest backs the national concern for the future of the site, as shown by the 35,000 signatures that were collected at the site among the visitors of which 30,000 were Turkish.

As you know, the site of Allianoi, from Hadrianic times, has been very well preserved (large parts up to a height of two stories), and features a courtyard with six columns and beautiful well preserved mosaics. The beauty and good state of preservation of the site, added to its historic significance - being one of the few Roman Baths ever to have been constructed outside of an urban environment - render significant its potential for tourist development. The healing hot springs could also be revived into an attractive spa in a heritage setting with modern facilities.

By ordering a relocation of the irrigation dam, the Turkish Government would both save a significant site of Europe’s common cultural heritage, as part of our shared memory and identity, but also as an asset for sustainable cultural and health tourism development, while still addressing the needs of the regional agricultural sector.

Sincerely,

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

We, the undersigned add our voice to protect the ancient town of Allianoi from flooding caused by the construction of the Yortanli Dam on the River Ilya.

We urge the Turkish Government to order that the irrigation dam, which is only one part of the overall project, to be relocated and by so doing protect this important gem of Europe’s cultural heritage.

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

We, the undersigned add our voice to the campaign to protect the ancient town of Allianoi from flooding caused by the construction of the Yortanli Dam on the River Ilya.

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]