Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

07.10.2024
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Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is located in the Atpazarı area of ​​the Ulus district of Ankara. Ankara It is located next to the southeast wall of the Castle. This museum consists of two historical Ottoman structures, Mahmut Pasha Bazaar and Kursunlu Han. Mahmut Pasha Bazaar was built between 1464-1471 and Kursunlu Han was built by Mehmet Pasha. İstanbulIt is thought that it was built to provide income for the soup kitchen in Üsküdar. Both buildings were abandoned for many years after the fire in 1881 and were later converted into a museum at Atatürk's request to exhibit the works collected from Anatolia.

Restoration and Opening of the Museum Building

In 1940, the restoration of the domed area in the middle of the Mahmut Pasha Bazaar was completed and the installation of the works began. In 1943, while the restoration of the buildings continued, this area was opened to visitors and the museum took its final form in 1968. Today, the Kursunlu Han is used as an administrative building and contains research rooms, a library, a conference hall, a laboratory and workshops. The Mahmut Pasha Bazaar serves as an exhibition hall.

The International Success of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

In a competition held in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1997, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations won the title of "Museum of the Year in Europe" among 68 museums. Today, the museum is among the world's leading museums with its unique collections.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Chronological Exhibition Order

The museum exhibits Anatolian archaeological artifacts in chronological order, starting from the Paleolithic Age to the present day. Original artifacts from each era are presented to visitors in exhibition areas designed to reflect the social, economic and cultural characteristics of their periods.

Paleolithic Age Exhibition

The Paleolithic Age, which began approximately 1.000.000 years ago in Anatolia and ended 11.000 years ago, is divided into four main periods: Lower, Middle, Upper and Epipaleolithic. These periods reflect the evolution of human interactions with their environment and the tool technologies used.

Nutrition and Daily Life in the Paleolithic Period

Paleolithic people lived as hunters and gatherers. Wild plants, fruits and roots found around them were their main sources of nutrition, and animal hunting remained an important dietary element. These people used stone tools to hunt animals and gather plants. These tools made it easier for them to adapt to the harsh living conditions of that period.

Technological Developments and Gadgets

The Epipaleolithic Period, an important period in the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic, is characterized by microlithic tools. These small and delicate stone tools were designed to be used in specific activities such as hunting. These tools, produced from materials such as flint, quartz and radiolarite, demonstrate the technological advancement of the period and are among the works exhibited in the museum.

This section provides visitors with a detailed look at the lifestyle of the Paleolithic period in Anatolia, the interactions of people with their environment, and how technology developed over time. While visitors are informed about the making and use of stone tools, they can also observe cultural and technological transformations in human history through these works.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Neolithic Age Exhibition

The Neolithic Age covers the period between 10.000 and 5.500 BC and is divided into two main sections in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Pottery Neolithic and Pre-Pottery Neolithic periods. This period is enriched with the findings of important archaeological sites such as Çatalhöyük and Hacılar.

Transformation of Life

The Neolithic Age is a period in which there was a transition from hunting and gathering to a productive village life. During this period, major changes such as the beginning of agriculture and the domestication of animals enabled human communities to transition to a settled life. The exhibition displays works such as human and animal figurines, ornaments, and tools from this period.

Technology and Art

Tools made of materials such as bone, flint and obsidian used in the Neolithic Age shed light on the technological advancement of the period. In addition, daily use items such as terracotta and stone vessels reflect the daily life practices and aesthetic understanding of the people of the period.

Çatalhöyük and Hasan Mountain

The wall paintings discovered at Çatalhöyük, considered the world's first city plan, are also an important part of this exhibition. The depiction of adjacent quadrangular structures and the volcanic Hasan Mountain in the background in these paintings demonstrate the interaction of Neolithic people with their natural environment and their settlement patterns.

This exhibition presents visitors with a comprehensive overview of the cultural and social changes, artistic expressions and technological innovations of the people who lived in Anatolia during the Neolithic Age. While examining the works from this period, visitors have the opportunity to gain in-depth information about this critical turning point in human history.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Chalcolithic Age Exhibition

The Chalcolithic Age covers the transition from village to urbanization in Anatolia between 5500 and 3000 BC, and significant transformations occurred in the socio-economic and cultural structures of societies during this period. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations presents a rich collection of this period, conveying regional diversity and cultural richness to visitors.

Social Structure and Economic Change

In the Chalcolithic Age, with the development of settled life in Anatolia, social layers such as ruling classes and craftsmen emerged. The beginning of mining is one of the most striking changes of this period. Villages gradually grew and with the increase in population, economic activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, weaving and ceramic production diversified.

Exhibited Works and Cultural Innovations

The Chalcolithic Age section is enriched with works from different regions, especially Hacılar, Canhasan, Tilkitepe, Alacahöyük, Alişar and Karaz. Among the works highlighted in the exhibition are;

  • pilgrims: There are ceramic vessels that are well-fired, burnished, red-lined and decorated with rich geometric patterns. These vessels show the aesthetic understanding of the period and the progress in ceramic technology.
  • Can Hasan: Staff heads made of copper represent early examples of metalworking.
  • AlisharMetal and stone seals indicate that the concept of private property is developing and trade is gaining importance.

Cultural Interaction and Artistic Development

The Chalcolithic Age is a period in Anatolia when artistic expression and technological innovations came to the fore. The details and workmanship seen in the artifacts provide a wide range of information from the daily life practices of the people of that period to social arrangements, from economic structure to cultural interactions.

This exhibition provides visitors with a comprehensive understanding of this critical period by revealing the early urbanization process and social transformations in Anatolia.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Early Bronze Age Exhibition

The Early Bronze Age is a period that covers the years between 3000 and 1950 BC and is characterized by the rise of city-states in Anatolia. A rich collection of this period is exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is presented to visitors with artifacts obtained from Alacahöyük, Horoztepe, Eskiyapar and other important archaeological sites.

Urbanization and Social Transformations

The urbanization process experienced in Anatolia in the Early Bronze Age is evident in the transformation of villages into cities and the formation of local governments. Bronze, obtained by mixing copper and tin, played a key role in the technological advances of this period. It was effective in many areas of life such as mining, agriculture, trade and industry, and radical changes occurred in social and economic structures.

Main Works Exhibited

  • Alacahöyük and Horoztepe King Tombs: These tombs provide important information about the social status and rituals of the elite class of the period. The bronze, gold and silver artifacts, rich ceremonial objects, jewelry and metal vessels unearthed from the tombs reveal the art and craft skills of the period.
  • Eskiyapar Residential Area: Objects obtained from this area provide information about daily life and cultural practices. The materials and workmanship used reflect the technical capacity and aesthetic understanding of Early Bronze Age societies.
  • Horoztepe and Hasanoğlan Statuettes: These statuettes provide valuable information about the religious beliefs and artistic expression of the period. Human and animal figures, as well as mythological scenes, illuminate the beliefs and rituals of that period.

Interaction of Technology and Art

The Early Bronze Age represents a period in Anatolia where metalworking meets art. The exhibited works demonstrate the mastery of metalworking as well as the aesthetic tastes and technological innovations of the period. Through these works in the museum, visitors gain a comprehensive perspective on the socio-economic structures, use of technology and aesthetic understanding of the Early Bronze Age.

This exhibition conveys the social and cultural transformations in Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age to visitors in an impressive and instructive way through archaeological findings.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Assyrian Trade Colonies Exhibition

The Assyrian Trading Colonies Period is a period that began in Anatolia in the early 2000s BC and lasted for approximately 200 years, marking the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age. This exhibition showcases the influence and commercial activities of Assyrian merchants who pioneered the beginning of written history in Anatolia.

Cultural and Commercial Interaction

Assyrian merchants came to Anatolia for trade purposes and brought the cuneiform script they learned from the Sumerians to these lands. The beginning of written history in Anatolia during this period had a profound effect on the cultural and economic structures of the region.

Exhibited Artifacts and Archaeological Findings

  • Kultepe, Acemhöyük, Alişar and Boğazköy Excavations: Artifacts unearthed from these sites include terracotta and stone vessels, seals, seal impressions, statuettes, lead god-goddess figurines and stone molds. Cosmetic boxes, gold items, jewelry, bronze tools and weapons are also exhibited.
  • Featured Historical Documents and Artworks:
    • Kultepe Tablets: These tablets, the oldest written documents of Anatolia, detail commercial and legal transactions in the region.
    • RhythonsAnimal-shaped ceremonial vessels reflect the religious and cultural rituals of the period.
    • Cuneiform Bronze Dagger Belonging to the Kanish King Anitta: This work demonstrates the royal authority and weapons technology of the period.
    • The Ivory Box at Acemhöyük: It is an important work that reflects the artistic understanding of the period in terms of its workmanship and use of materials.

Development of Trade and Writing

This exhibition explores the trade methods and innovations such as cuneiform that Assyrian merchants brought to Anatolia, and the profound cultural and economic impact they had on the region. The exhibition also provides a window into how the interactions of Anatolian communities with Assyrian culture transformed social and economic structures.

The Assyrian Trade Colonies Exhibition provides visitors with a comprehensive and impressive account of a period that witnessed the beginning of written history in Anatolia and revealed the dimensions of cultural interaction as well as trade.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Hittite Exhibition

The Hittite Empire, the first major state to rule Anatolia and govern the region centrally between 1750 and 1200 BC, has a special exhibition area in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This period has a rich artistic heritage and administrative structure influenced by the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period.

Hittite State Structure and Artistic Heritage

The Hittite Empire interacted with many cultures in Anatolia with its centralized administrative system, and these interactions were reflected in the art of the empire. Hittite art reflected the diversity and richness of a great empire, producing unique works from civilizations in the region and outside the region.

Important Hittite Centers and Archaeological Sites

  • Capital Bogazkoy Places such as İnandık, Eskiyapar, Alacahöyük, Alişar, Ferzant and Maşathöyük are known as the cultural and political centers of the empire. The findings obtained from these regions provide valuable information about the social and religious life of the Hittites.

Main Works Exhibited

  • We Believe Vase: This work, one of the most famous examples of the Hittite relief vase tradition, reveals the aesthetic taste and artistic skill of the period.
  • God and Goddess Figurines: These statuettes made of ivory, gold and bronze are important pieces reflecting the religious beliefs and rituals of the Hittites.
  • Ceremonial Vessels and Cuneiform Clay Tablets: These works reveal the writing culture and administrative structures of the period.
  • Seal Imprints of Kings and Queens: These seals contain the original symbols used by the Hittites in official documents and administration.
  • The Only Example Bronze Tablet in Anatolia and a Letter of Friendship Written from the Egyptian Queen Naptera to the Hittite Queen Puduhepa: These two historical documents are living witnesses of Hittite diplomacy and international relations.

Cultural Impact of the Hittite Empire

The Hittite Empire exhibition offers visitors a comprehensive look at the artistic, cultural and political structure of the empire. This exhibition reveals the Hittites’ influence on Anatolia and surrounding regions, as well as their diplomatic and cultural interactions in the international arena. These works convey to visitors that the Hittites were a civilization ahead of their time and how far they went in art and administration.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Phrygian Exhibition

The Phrygians emerged as a new community that settled in Anatolia after the collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1200 BC and radically changed the cultural structure. During this period, the cultural traditions that had continued in Anatolia for centuries were replaced by a new understanding of art and craft specific to the Phrygians.

Art and Crafts of the Phrygians

The differences seen in Phrygian ceramic forms and decorative art reveal the unique aesthetic understanding of this society. However, the Phrygians especially displayed great mastery in mining and woodworking. The works they developed in this field are important examples reflecting the technological and artistic level of the period.

Main Works Exhibited

This section displays important findings from Phrygian settlements such as the capital Gordion Tumulus, Alişar, Boğazköy, Kültepe, Pazarlı and Maşathöyük. The works featured in the exhibition are as follows:

  • Bronze CauldronsBronze cauldrons, which reveal the Phrygians' mastery in metalworking, have an important place in ceremonial and daily use.
  • Animal Head SituationsUsed as ceremonial vessels, these situlas reflect the artistic imagination and ritual traditions of the Phrygians.
  • Phrygian Fibulae: These fibulae used to fasten clothes attract attention with their designs specific to the Phrygians.
  • Omphalos Phiale (Belly-shaped Stones): These bowls, which are ceremonial vessels, are among the important objects in the religious and social rituals of the Phrygians.
  • Wooden Serving Table and Miniature Toys: These pieces are excellent examples of woodwork and demonstrate the advanced skills of Phrygian craftsmen.
  • Terracotta Goose Shaped Rhytons: These rhytons, which have ceremonial use, present the symbolic and functional features of Phrygian art together.

The Phrygian Section offers visitors an in-depth look at the cultural transitions in Anatolia and the artistic contributions of the Phrygians. These works show that the Phrygians made significant contributions not only to the cultural history of Anatolia but also to the history of world art.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Urartian Exhibition

Urartian Exhibition, between 900 and 600 BC Eastern AnatoliaIt presents a rich cultural heritage of the Urartian State that ruled in Van-Altıntepe, Pain- This section, equipped with artifacts collected from various archaeological sites such as Patnos, Erzincan-Altıntepe, Van-Toprakkale, Muş-Kayalıdere and Adilcevaz and Giyimli village, reveals the mining, architectural and artistic achievements of the Urartians.

Urartian Architecture and Engineering Mastery

The Urartians are known for their unique temples, palaces, and multi-columned audience halls. They are also noted for their engineering structures such as dams, ponds, irrigation canals, and roads, reflecting the Urartians' advanced skills in architecture and engineering.

Main Works Exhibited

The Urartian Section displays striking examples of the craftsmanship and art of the period:

  • Furniture Parts and OrnamentsMade of bronze and ivory, these works display the intricate details of Urartian furniture art.
  • Bronze Belts and Votive Slabs: These objects used in religious and ceremonial life shed light on the belief system and rituals of the Urartians.
  • Silver and Bronze Needles, Fibulae, BraceletsPersonal ornaments reflect the fashion sense and craftsmanship skills of the period.
  • Necklaces and Ornaments Made of Various Stones: These jewellery pieces demonstrate the Urartians' mastery of processing natural materials.
  • War and Agricultural Equipment: These tools made of iron and bronze show the tools used by the Urartians in daily life and military activities.

Featured Historical Artifact

  • Ivory Lion Statuette Found in AltıntepeThis lion statuette, created by combining more than a hundred ivory plates, is the largest lion statuette made of ivory in Near Eastern Asia and is considered a symbolic expression of Urartian art.

The Urartian Exhibition provides visitors with the opportunity to explore the artistic, technological and architectural achievements of this ancient civilization, detailing the Urartian influence on history and its cultural heritage. The exhibition also reveals the Urartian interactions with other cultures in Anatolia and the surrounding regions.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Hall of Stone Works

The Hall of Stone Works has a rich collection of reliefs and stonework from various periods in Anatolia. This hall covers a wide time period from the Hittite Imperial Period to the Late Hittite Principalities Period and also includes Phrygian reliefs.

Hittite and Late Hittite Period Stone Artifacts

  • Alacahöyük Reliefs: These works, dating from the 14th century BC, are among the most striking examples of Hittite art. Hittite sculpture, integrated with architecture, reveals itself with the semi-sculptural animal figures used especially at doorways and on the facades of monumental buildings.
  • Orthostats: These embossed stone blocks, dating from the Late Hittite Principalities Period, were used to decorate the lower levels of the buildings. MalatyaOrthostats brought from places such as Kargamış, Sakçagözü and Zincirli reflect the artistic understanding of the period.

Phrygian Reliefs

  • Phrygian Reliefs from Ankara Surroundings: These works, made between 1200-700 BC, show the tradition of decorating the entrances of the Phrygian tombs. The figure of the Goddess Kubaba, holding a pomegranate and having horns, is one of the prominent works of this period.
  • King Mutallu Statue: This statue, made under Assyrian influence, displays the characteristic features of Late Hittite art and sheds light on the cultural interactions of the period.

Importance of the Hall

The Hall of Stone Works shows visitors how stone was used as a medium of art and expression in ancient Anatolia. The works are important not only for their artistic value but also for their historical and cultural context. This hall conveys the aesthetic tastes, religious beliefs and social structures of Anatolian civilizations to visitors through works of art carved on stone.

Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, located in the historical Ulus district of Ankara, offers visitors traces of the ancient civilizations of Anatolia with its rich collections. Located at the foot of Ankara Castle, this museum houses two Ottoman structures, the Mahmut Pasha Bazaar and the Kursunlu Han. Both buildings were converted into museums upon Atatürk’s instructions in order to exhibit artifacts collected from all over Anatolia. Crowned with prestigious awards such as the title of “Museum of the Year in Europe,” this museum exhibits artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the present day in chronological order, offering visitors the opportunity to discover the cultural and historical riches of Anatolia from prehistory to the present. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations promises its visitors a journey not only with artifacts, but also with its deep historical and cultural context.

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