Excavations in Northern Cyprus Search for Missing Civilians

Cypriot authorities have begun a new phase of excavations in northern Cyprus, searching for the remains of Greek Cypriot civilians who disappeared during the island’s violent division in 1974. The operation, led by the Cyprus Missing Persons Committee, is focused on suspected mass grave sites in the Galatea area of Famagusta province, where Turkish forces allegedly buried victims during the conflict.

Renewed Search for the Missing

Archaeologists are working at two primary locations: a dried lakebed in Galatea and a well in nearby Eptakomi. According to officials, the Galatea site was previously excavated in 2006 and 2015, yielding the remains of 18 individuals. Testimonies from Turkish Cypriot informants suggest that heavy machinery was used to bury bodies in the area in 1974. The current search is driven by new witness accounts and aims to locate up to eight additional missing persons believed to be buried there. The urgency is heightened by the approaching winter rains, which could hinder further excavation efforts.

Historical Context and Ongoing Efforts

The 1974 conflict, which followed a coup backed by Greece and a subsequent Turkish military intervention, resulted in the division of Cyprus into Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Thousands of civilians went missing during the violence, and the bicommunal committee continues to search for approximately 2,000 people still unaccounted for. Galatea, now renamed Mehmetçik, was a Turkish Cypriot village before the conflict, but Greek Cypriot civilians from surrounding areas are believed to have been killed and buried there.

Archaeologist Haralambos Siafkou, involved in the current dig, emphasized that all the missing persons sought at the site were civilians, many of whom were reportedly abducted from their villages. Turkish Cypriot archaeologist Ali Gulluoglu, who has worked at the site since 2009, stated that the team is determined to complete a thorough excavation to ensure no remains are overlooked. He also appealed to the public for any information that could assist in the search, urging witnesses not to be afraid to come forward.

Community Impact and Appeals for Information

The ongoing excavations are a stark reminder of the unresolved trauma that continues to affect families across Cyprus. The search for the missing is not only a humanitarian effort but also a crucial step toward reconciliation between the island’s divided communities. Authorities have called on anyone with knowledge of the events of 1974 to provide information, stressing the importance of closure for the families of the missing.

Despite several previous excavation attempts in the area that yielded no new findings, the current operation reflects a renewed commitment to uncovering the truth and providing answers to those who have waited decades for news of their loved ones.