The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said a delegation attended the inauguration of the Aerial Monitoring and Security Center for the Ancient City of Sardis and the Bintepe Lydian Tumuli in Manisa, calling it another important step in U.S.–Türkiye cooperation to protect cultural heritage. American and Turkish experts conduct joint research and conservation work at Sardis.

Opened on Sept. 30 in a renovated excavation house overlooking Bintepe, the center operates two long-range, night-vision drone systems, three antenna systems and perimeter cameras to detect illegal digs early and alert the gendarmerie. Bintepe covers about 75 square kilometers and holds more than 120 monumental tombs, including that of Lydian King Alyattes.

Sardis and Bintepe were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. American excavations led by Harvard and Cornell universities have been under way at Sardis since 1958.