Chasing the Golden Hoard: The Story of the Lydian Hoard: A Tale of Theft, Repatriation, Greed & Deceit

The theft of the numerous archaeological artifacts which comprise the so-called Lydian Hoard (Karun Hazineleri or Karun Treasure, in Turkish) is legendary. So too is its discovery, the lawsuit which embroiled the Republic of Turkey and the all powerful Metropolitan Museum of Art for almost six years, and the surprising problems encountered after the “treasure” had been repatriated to Turkey. With the possible exception of the exploration of the tomb of Tutankhamon, no other archaeological discovery can compete with the Lydian Hoard for its mystique and intrigue. No other archaeological discovery has influenced and destroyed as many lives as the Lydian Hoard.

Chasing The Golden Hoard follows the lives of a Turkish family living on the outskirts of the modern town of Usak in southwestern Turkey as they accidentally discover an unplundered Sixth Century B.C. tomb, dating from the reign of Lydian king Croesus (Karun, in Turkish).