For Armenians, a people still living under the shadow of what they regard as "the first genocide of the 20th century” carried out against their ancestors who lived under the Ottoman Empire, the listing ensures protection of a small but treasured piece of their heritage. But a visit to the region today shows that, outside the walls of Ani, what remains of Armenian culture in Turkey is in danger of disappearing entirely.
Armenia's Broken Heritage
In July 2016, the ancient Armenian city of Ani, now in eastern Turkey, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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Oğuzlu church, around 16 kilometers from Ani. The church was largely intact until 1936, when an earthquake reportedly destroyed the structure.
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A local from the village of Oguzlu shows a khachkar that is being used as part of a fencepost. The men of the village say they found two khachkars when excavating the foundations of a house in the village.