Headstones were used as manhole covers

Malkara Mayor Ulaş Yurdakul said that the old headstones belong to the graves that vanished years ago and these headstones were put into use as manhole covers in some places of the district in the past years.

During the defect repair process that was carried by Tekirdağ General Directorate of Water and Sewerage Administration (TESKİ) in Malkara district of Tekirdağ, some headstones that belong to the Armenians were found. Malkara Mayor Ulaş Yurdakul said that these headstones were put into use as manhole covers in some places of the district in the past years. Experts point out that these headstones are considered as cultural heritage. 
The Mayor Made a Statement
TESKİ Malkara Branch Office workers carried a defect repair in Zülfikarağa Street in Hacıevhat Neigborhood. These TESKİ workers found a marble stone during the excavation and managed to dig it out without breaking it. In the further excavation, seven headstones were found. The workers informed the municipality officials. Malkara Mayor Ulaş Yurdakul made a statement about the issue via Anadolu Agency. He said that the old headstones belong to the graves that vanished years ago and these headstones were put into use as manhole covers in some places of the district in the past years.
Stating that they took the headstones under preservation, Yurdakul said that they will contact to Tekirdağ Museum Directorate in order to determine whether these stones have a historical value or not, and they will hand them to the Museum Directorate if it is necessary.
Agos contacted to Tekirdağ Archaeological Museum officials and they said that they took the headstones under preservation and they will carry the necessary examinations. 
Cultural Heritage
The head of HAYCAR, which was founded by Armenian architects and engineers, Jan Gavrilof emphasized the importance of these head stones: “Headstones are certainly considered as cultural heritage. These stones belong to the Armenian Cemetery in Malkara. They are very important in terms of Armenian history. In the years to come, we will need those headstones, when we want to make explainations about certain things. Ministry of Culture should claim these stones. Armenian society has no enough force to claim them.” 
Drawing attention to the process that Sarkis Balyan’s incidentally found gravestones went through, Gavrilof said, “The process that Balyan’s gravestones went through sets an important example. They were taken under protection by Istanbul Archaeological Museum. When we wanted to take these stones to Balyan’s family cemetery, we had to make an application to the Council of Monuments. This recent example shows that Ministry of Culture should take the responsibility about this matter.”