Medieval mummy hidden for a year before Turkish police foil $1M sale
A mummy determined to date back to the medieval period was seized in an operation carried out by gendarmerie teams in Nigde, Türkiye, Mar. 11, 2025. (IHA Photo)
A group of seven individuals in Nigde, south-central Türkiye, has been arrested for attempting to sell a mummy, which authorities believe dates back to the Middle Ages and belonged to a Christian male.
The suspects, including a student, a hairdresser, an auto electrician, a car dealer, a farmer, and a shopkeeper, had reportedly hidden the medieval mummy for a year before trying to sell it for $1 million.
How was the mummy in Türkiye discovered?
According to the investigation, three of the suspects, Ruhi Gokmen, Mehmet Azak, and Ismail Erin, discovered the mummy about a year ago while digging in a field near Kalay Gol in Kemerhisar. The mummy was buried approximately 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) to 2 meters underground, with its legs partially visible.
What did they decide to do with the medieval mummy?
After unearthing it, the group transported the remains to an abandoned house owned by one suspect’s grandfather in Tepe Mahallesi. The mummy was initially kept inside the house before being moved to a septic pit in the garden.
As more individuals joined in, the group started searching for potential buyers. One suspect, Hakan Gok, admitted to moving the mummy in his vehicle after being contacted by Gokmen, who said, “Let’s take the mummy to your place for a few days.” The remains of the medieval mummy were then locked inside the house, awaiting a sale.
Turkish police set up undercover operation to catch suspects
Authorities were alerted when the group began looking for buyers. To catch the suspects, the Nigde Provincial Gendarmerie Command devised a plan.
The plan that led to the capture of the medieval mummy smugglers
- An undercover officer posed as a professor specializing in historical artifacts and expressed interest in purchasing the medieval mummy
- The suspects sent images of the remains and arranged a meeting to finalize the deal
- Upon arriving at the designated location, the suspects presented the mummy to the undercover officer, believing they were about to negotiate a price
- Instead, security forces moved in and arrested them
The seven suspects—Kaan Akdogan, Ruhi Gokmen, Mehmet Azak, Hakan Gok, Haci Oguz, Sahin Karatas, and Ismail Erin—were taken into custody.
After their initial interrogation at the Kemerhisar Gendarmerie Station, they were transferred to court and subsequently detained.
Experts investigate mummy’s origins as authorities secure site
Following the arrests, the Nigde Governor’s Office released a statement confirming that the medieval mummy was seized in a house belonging to one of the suspects. The statement described the remains as “believed to belong to a Christian male from the Middle Ages.”
Officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have since launched an archaeological investigation at the site where the mummy was originally found. The area is now under strict surveillance, and authorities are assessing whether additional artifacts might be present.
The governor’s office emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to protecting its cultural heritage.
Our country is determined to safeguard its historical artifacts. The gendarmerie’s swift action prevented the illegal sale of a valuable historical object.
Europe’s fascination with mummies, past smuggling incidents in Türkiye
This incident brings attention to a long history of mummy smuggling, particularly in Europe. In the 15th and 16th centuries, European nobility viewed ancient artifacts as status symbols.
As a result, diplomats, merchants, and collectors sought to acquire antiquities from regions under Ottoman rule, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia.
During the 18th century, the interest in mummies intensified, with European aristocrats eager to add them to their private collections.
A historical example of an attempt to smuggle a mummy out of Türkiye
- A notable historical case occurred in 1717 when Ottoman authorities intercepted French nationals attempting to smuggle a “magical” female mummy out of Istanbul
- The smugglers claimed the mummy was a gift from the French king to the Swedish king
- Believing that its removal could bring misfortune to the empire, officials locked it in Yedikule Dungeon instead of allowing it to leave the country
Why did suspects try to hide the mummy? Legal consequences, ongoing investigation
While six of the arrested suspects remained silent during interrogations, one provided details about their intentions with the medieval mummy.
Ismail Erin, one of the suspects who is a hairdresser, stated that financial difficulties led him to participate in the attempted sale. “I got involved because I have an autistic child and debts. I needed a way to breathe financially,” he reportedly told investigators.
What are the legal consequences?
The case remains under investigation, with authorities examining whether the suspects had connections to larger smuggling networks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is analyzing the medieval mummy to determine its exact age and origin. Additional excavation efforts are planned in the Kalay Gol area to uncover any further historical artifacts.
Türkiye has stringent laws against historical artifact smuggling. Under the current legal framework, attempting to sell cultural heritage items can lead to severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences.
