Ottoman-Russian War artifacts unearthed in eastern Türkiye shed light on region’s wartime history
BINGOL, 8 August (BelTA — Anadolu) — Unearthed artifacts dating back
to the 1916–1917 Ottoman-Russian War in eastern Türkiye bring the
region’s wartime history to light.
Ali Kus, a native of Bingol
province, first discovered bullets, shrapnel, horseshoes, and other war
relics scattered across the approximately 2,700-meter-high (8,860-feet)
mountains while herding livestock in his childhood village.
Unaware
of their significance at the time, Kus sold many of these items to
scrap dealers. Years later, a visit to a museum in Canakkale province
made him realize their historical significance.
About a decade
ago, Kus would return to his village in the summertime to collect war
relics from the mountains. Using an off-road vehicle, he traveled long
distances to former Russian positions, uncovering war remnants at every
turn.
Now, 64 years old, he displays the collected artifacts in a
section he established in front of the Azizan Martyrs’ Memorial, built
by the government to honor those who lost their lives during the
Ottoman-Russian War.
In 2024, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism officially designated the region as a protected site.
Kus
told Anadolu that he hopes to help people understand the sacrifices
made to preserve their homeland by displaying these artifacts. He also
noted the presence of numerous soldier graves in the area, as well as
his mini-museum, which contains the buttons, helmets, chest keys,
bullets, kukris, rifles, and rifle stocks of troops who served on that
front.
His grandson, as well as local children and residents,
learn about history through the mini-museum and the war relics it
preserves.
