Puzzling Zeugma’s mosaics together

It is the flooding of Zeugma by the rising waters of the Euphrates River that drew the world’s attention to this once so proud city. Zeugma first reached headlines in 1990 when the Dam of Ataturk on this river, part of the huge GAP-project, was completed (see: Zeugma, Border-Town along the Euphrates River).

This time, the news comes from another side, the Bowling Green State University in Ohio, U.S.A., who possessed twelve mosaics from ancient Zeugma. The pieces are said to be looted from the site nearly fifty years ago during illegal excavations. It turns out that these sections belong to the well-known mosaic of the so-called Gipsy Girl.

[Gipsy-Girl Picture from Hurriyet Daily News]

With the customary flattering words and adequate apologies and reverence, the return agreement has been signed and the mosaics have been handed over to Turkey. They will, no doubt, join the magnificent collection at the Museum of Gaziantep.

It always is very satisfactory to witness how widespread bits and pieces of archaeological finds are being reunited, especially when they return to their place of origin.

[Picture of the panels from Ohio are from Archaeology News Network]