Turkey investigates ruined ancient mosaics

Ankara - At least eight ancient mosaics were ruined while being restored and moved to a new museum in southern Turkey and authorities are looking into ways to fix the botched work, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Turkey's Culture Ministry is investigating those responsible for the failed restoration work or anyone who may be guilty of negligence as the mosaics at the Hatay Archaeological Museum were being moved to the museum's new premises in the city of Antakya, Governor Ercan Topaca of Hatay province told the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The Hatay museum is home to one of the world's greatest collections of Roman mosaics.

"Some mistakes were made while the mosaics were being mounted," Anadolu quoted Topaca as saying. "Now our priority is to find ways to correct the mistakes."

Topaca said authorities were made aware of the problem in March and immediately ended the move and restoration of the mosaics. He said "eight or nine" mosaics were affected.

Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper published before-and-after pictures of three of the mosaics, in which the restored versions appeared to be distorted and sometimes different in colour.