A 2,000-year-old monument near Çem Castle in Osmaniye, Türkiye, was destroyed by treasure hunters using dynamite. The monument, believed to date back to the Roman or Phrygian period, was found shattered after illegal excavators drilled into it and placed explosives.
Çem Castle, located on a steep slope in the Sumbas district, has been targeted by illegal treasure hunters. Many pits were also found dug around the site. Ertuğrul Aktaş, a local council member, emphasized the lack of security and called on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to protect the area from further damage and illegal excavations. He urged for restoration efforts to open the site to tourists, highlighting its historical significance to the region.