Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a museum that was established in 1921 with the instruction of Atatürk. Where Anatolian civilizations’ artcrafts are exhibited and cultural activities are held. It is one of the few museums in the world where the works of all civilizations from the Paleolithic Period to the present are exhibited chronologically.

The Anatolian Civilizations Museum is in two Ottoman buildings near Ankara Castle. One of the structures is Mahmut Pasha Bedesten and the other is Kurşunlu Han.

Bedesten was built by Mahmut Pasha, one of the viziers of Mehmet the Conqueror, between 1464 and 1471. The building does not have any inscription. It is recorded in the sources that pure Ankara clothes are distributed here. The design of the building is of the classical type. There are 10 domes covering a rectangle designed to surround the space and 102 shops facing each other.

Anatolian Civilizations Museum, History, Architectural Structure, Artifacts

After the renovation and repair works were completed (1938-1968). The building was opened to visitors as the Ankara Archeology Museum. It is one of the richest museums in the world. Inside this Ottoman building, there are many exhibitions of Anatolian archeology in the museum. They start with the Paleolithic age and continue chronologically until the Neolithic, Early Bronze, Assyrian trade colonies, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. There is also a large collection of works. The display of gold, silver, glass, marble and bronze works dates back to the second half of the 1st millennium BC. The coin collections, with examples ranging from the first minted coins to modern times, represent the rare cultural treasures of the museum.

The central hall features reliefs and sculptures, while the surrounding halls take you on an astonishing historical journey from the Paleolithic to the Classical period, from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age Assyrian and Hittite periods, to the Phrygian and Urartian periods of the Iron Age. The best place in the country to deal with the complex fabric of Turkey’s history, these exhibitions host artifacts collected from almost every major archaeological site in Anatolia.

​Anatolian Civilizations Museum Interiors

Anatolian Civilizations Museum consists of 11 subsections and 3 main sections.

In one of the main sections called the upper hall; There are 8 subdivisions: Paleolithic Age, Neolithic Age, Chalcolithic Age, Old Bronze Age, Assyrian Trade Colonies Period, Hittites, Phrygians and Urartians. The upper hall has a variety of artifacts and breathtaking historical features.

The indoor space, called the Stone Works Hall, consists of the rectangular shape of Mahmut Pasha Bedesten, which is the foundation of the museum building, covered with ten domes. Stone artifacts from the Hittite and Late Hittite periods, each unique, are exhibited in this section.

The lower hall consists of two separate sub-sections of the museum for Ankara in the Ages and Classical Periods. In this section, starting from the second half of the 1st millennium BC; Gold, silver, glass, marble and bronze works belonging to the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are exhibited.

According to historical records and registry books, Kurşunlu Han was built as a foundation for Mehmet Pasha (Vizier of the Conqueror) to give alms in Üsküdar, Istanbul. It has no inscription. During the repairs made in 1946, II. Coins belonging to the Murat period were found. The finds show that the inn existed in the 15th century. The inn has the typical design of the inns of the Ottoman Era. It has a courtyard and portico in the middle and is surrounded by two-storey rooms. There are 28 rooms on the ground floor and 30 rooms on the first floor. There is an “L” type barn on the ground floor on the west and south sides of the rooms. There are 11 shops on the north side of the inn, 9 shops on the east side and 4 shops facing each other in the garden. The inn was built by Mehmet Pasha and in 1467, Mehmet Pasha was promoted to the vizierate. The vaulted bazaar was built by Mahmut Pasha, who continued his duty until 1470. These two structures that make up the museum today were abandoned after the fire in 1881.

​Anatolian Civilizations Museum Important Artifacts, Ancient Ruins

Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which is among the exceptional museums with its unique collection, contains Anatolian archaeological artifacts and artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the present.

Paleolithic Age (….8000), Neolithic Age (8000-5500), Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone) Age (5500-3000 BC), Old Bronze Age (3000-1950 BC), Hittites (BC. BC 1750-1200), Phrygians (1200-700 BC), Urartu (1200-600 BC), Late Hittites (1200-700 BC)

The Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which has survived to the present day with its historical structures and deep-rooted history, was selected as the first “Museum of the Year” in Switzerland on 19 April 1997.

​Anatolian Civilizations Museum Important Artifacts, Mother Goddess Statue

 

 

Anatolian Civilizations Museum Important Historical Artifacts, Ship Model

Where is the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, How to Go, Directions, Visiting Hours, Entrance Fee (Price)

Full address: Kale Mahallesi (Neighborhood), Hisarpark Geçidi (Cadde), Gözcü Sokak (Street) No:2 06240, Ulus, Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey

The museum is located on the Ankara Castle road.

By taking the city bus; 10 minutes from Ulus Bazaar, Anafartalar, Ulus stops. on foot

Get off at Ulus station with Batıkent-Kızılay metro and take 10 minutes from Ulus Çarşı exit. Accessible on foot.

The museum is open from 09:00 to 17:00 every day throughout the year. It is closed only in the mornings of the first days of religious holidays. The entrance fee (price) is 45 Turkish Liras as of 2021. It is free for children under 8 years old.