Cyprus’ 7,000-year-old ceramic artifacts reunited with their homeland

Cyprus’ 7,000-year-old ceramic artifacts scattered around the world have reunited with their homeland at the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art through a 150-piece collection created by Rauf Ersenal using original techniques.
The exhibition ‘Memory of Earth from Neolithic to Middle Ages,’ consisting of replicas made with original techniques of Cyprus’ ceramic artifacts that were taken out of the island especially during the British period and scattered around the world from the British Museum to the Metropolitan Museum, was opened for visit with the participation of the Speaker of the Republic Assembly Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel at the Exhibition Hall of Atatürk Cultural and Congress Center of Near East University.
Cyprus Island, which has been important in ceramic production and techniques since prehistoric times, holds significance in showing not only the island’s but also the cultural interactions and commercial relationships of different periods in the Mediterranean through the ceramic artifacts found in archaeological excavations in Cyprus. However, it is known that thousands of ceramic artifacts unearthed in Cyprus were taken out of the island, especially during the British period spanning from 1878 to 1960. These artifacts are currently scattered around the world from the British Museum to the Metropolitan Museum.
Cyprus Turkish researcher and artist Rauf Ersenal, by tracing the traces of artifacts unearthed in archaeological excavations in Cyprus but dispersed to museums in different countries around the world, created a massive collection of 150 pieces using the original baking and painting techniques of their periods. Rauf Ersenal created the collection with 24 years of effort.
At the exhibition opening attended by Speaker of the Republic Assembly Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, and artist Rauf Ersenal each delivered a speech.
Artist Rauf Ersenal was awarded the ‘Silver Key of Honor Award’ at the ceremony by Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and our responsibility to convey and preserve this heritage for future generations.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that it is a great privilege to see these artifacts that carry a 7,000-year-old heritage to our present day, emphasizing the importance of the exhibition in rediscovering Cyprus’ rich history and cultural heritage.
Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt highlighted the deep meanings and human emotions conveyed by ceramic art, underlining the significance of the artifacts in reflecting the cultural richness and historical depth of our country.
Rauf Ersenal expressed his happiness in bringing thousands of years of cultural heritage to the present day with his works, stating that he started his research on the stolen artifacts from Cyprus about 24 years ago and decided to reproduce them using the original techniques of their times to bring them back to his country.
Rauf Ersenal mentioned that he started making these artifacts with the dream that they would eventually find their place, emphasizing the importance of leaving behind a legacy and the joy of knowing that he will live with the happiness of leaving these artifacts behind while he is still alive.