We have long bemoaned the fact that, located in the midst of so many ancient sites, Fethiye Museum is so disappointing.

First of all it is difficult to find and when you do get there the signage in English is practically non-existent, glass cases are often dusty and the whole place has an air of neglect.

Well all of this is about to change.

According to the Director of the Museum, Ibrahim Malko媠the Museum will soon take its place in the list of internationally recognised institutions.

He doesn’t say exactly when or how this transformation is to take place, but does give some interesting information about the situation with regard to artefacts.

At any one time there are around 1,000 items on display in the Museum and a further 19,000 or so in storage.

Fethiye receives all the finds from excavations at Caunos, which have been going on for 43 years now, and Tlos where they started digging 3 years ago.

To display even a fraction of the artefacts in storage will need a much bigger building – and the digging continues.

What about the other local sites which have yet to be excavated?

Pinara, Gemiler Island, Lycian remains in Kaya, Cadianda, we won’t go on.

But we will try to keep you informed of any further developments with regard to the Museum – watch this space.