Saturday, August 27, 2005

Scoop: Mazur: Getting To The Bottom Of The Dorak Affair

"Dig Of The Century: Getting To The Bottom Of The Dorak Affair

By Suzan Mazur

He's held out longer than Woodward, Bernstein & Deep Throat. But it's time British archaeologist James 'Jimmie' Mellaart, now age 80 or so and in his golden years, finally fesses up to the whereabouts of the priceless 'Royal Treasure of Dorak,' which he first tantalized the world with by publishing drawings of the artifacts in the November 28, 1959 issue of The Illustrated London News, saying the pieces were from a clandestine dig in northwest Turkey. And after which the press clamored to see it. However, fabulous Dorak had by then apparently vanished, along with its owner, Anna Papastrati.

Mellaart said he first met Papastrati, a Greek woman who spoke English with an American accent, on a train bound for the Aegean coast city of Izmir in the summer of 1958. He described her as, 'very attractive in a tarty sort of way', and said he was fascinated by an ancient gold bracelet she wore."

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