1997 THE MUSEUM OF THE YEAR

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which dates back today with its historical structures and its fundamental history, was received the first prize among 68 museums on 19 April, 1997 in Lausanne, Switzerland and obtained the appellation of Museum of The Year.

The very first museum in Ankara was built in the Akkale section of Ankara Castle in 1921. Due to the necessity of wide areas, restorations improvements of Mahmud Pasha Market ( Bedesten) and Kurşunlu Inn each of which is an Ottoman structure, started; and the structure of the museum got its final form in 1968.

It is anticipated that the market was built by Mahmud Pasha, one of the grand viziers of Mehmed The Conqueror Era, between 1464 and 1471. It has no epigraph. The plan of the structure is in classical style. The indoor area with rectangular plan covered with 10 domes in the middle, is surrounded by an arasta (row of shops) consisting of 102 stores covered with barrel vaults that were arranged facing one another.

According to the latest studies based on written records and offical records, Kurşunlu Inn was made as a foundation for the alms house of Mahmud Pasha, one of the grand viziors of Mehmed The Conqueror Period. It has no epigraph. During its restorage, the coins pertaning to Murad II was got in 1946. This foundlings prove the idea that the inn existed in the first half of 15th century.

The inn is in the classical style of the inns of Ottoman Period and consists of courtyard in the middle and double storey rooms that surround it. On the ground flor, there are 28 rooms and on the first ground 30 rooms exist. In the north front 11 stores, in the east front 9 stores and 4 stores arranged facing each other in the entrance, stand.

In the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which takes its place among the respectable museums of the world with its genuine collections, Anatolian archelogical creations are chronologically presented started from Paleolithic Age to our day.

Paleolithic Age (…8000): It is represented by the foundlings of Karain Cave, Antalya. The humans of this age are the hunter and picker communities who shelter in the inns and in the beneaths of the rocks. The stone and bone tools belonging to these humans are the foundlings that prove this era.

Neolithic Age ( 8000 – 5500) : Starting with the production of nutriments and the very first established communities of the history of humankind, this era is reflected by the foundlings of  and Hacılar which are the important centers of the period. Among the foundlings, there are statues of great mother goddess, signets, pots made of terracotta, bone tools for agriculture.

Chalcolithic Age ( 5500 – 3000 BC): Apart from stone tools, the affluent foundlings pertaning to this period in which the manipulation of the copper led to daily usage of it, are at Hacılar, Canhasan , Tilkitepe , Alacahöyük and Alişar .

Bronze Age ( 3000 – 1950 BC): As well as magnificent presents made of valuable metals for the dead which were removed from the royal tombs at Alacahöyük, many artefacts of Hasanoğlan, Mahmatlar, Eskiyapar , Horoztepe, Karaoğlan, Merzifon, Etiyokuşu, Ahlatlıbel, Karayavşan, Bolu, Beycesultan, Semahöyük, Karaz – Tilkitepe are displayed as a rich collection of Bronze Age.

The Hittites ( 1750 – 1200 BC): It was established in Kızılırmak region, the very first political unity by the Hittites. The capital Boğazköy (Hattusa) and the centers such as Eskiyapar , Alacahöyük, Alişar , Ferzant are fertile places for foundlings. The embossed pots with bull figres, artifacts made of terracotta, the tablets pertaning to state records, signets with the imprints of kings’s names draw attention.

The Phrygians ( 1200 – 700 BC): The Phrygians who came from The Balkans, became dominant in the Middle Anatolia with their center Gordium City. The artifacts that were excavated from Gordium Tumulusus and other archeological sites are the most gorgeous samples of Phrygian Art.

The Urartians ( 1200 – 600 BC): The Urartians, who reached advanced levels in architecture and mining in centers such as Altıntepe, Adilcevaz, Kayalıdere, Patnos, Van and Çavuştepe ; lived in Eastern Anatolia concurrently with The Phrygians.

Neo Hittites ( 1200 – 700 BC): After the decline of the Hittite Empire, some of the Hittites established city states in southern parts and southeast of Anatolia and experienced Neo Hittites Principality. Malatya – Arslantepe Mound, Kargamış, Sakçagözü respresent the important settlings of Neo Hittite.

Starting from 1000 BC, the golden, silver, marble, bronze creations belonging to Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Periods to our day, the collections, which begin with the first coins and continue until our age, embody rare cultural assets of the museum.
 Museum Of Anatolıan Cıvılızatıons   Tel : (0312) 324 31 60-62
Faks : (0312) 311 28 39
Web : http://www.anadolumedeniyetlerimuzesi.gov.tr