Tokat Museum was founded in 1926 in Gök Medrese, a historical building that was built in 1277 under the supervision of Muiniddin Süleyman Pervane Bey, who was one of the viziers of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev III; the Museum originally housed historical items collected by Halis Cinlioglu, a retired teacher.
Gök Medrese served as a theological school and a hospital during the Anatolian Seljuks; it is a two-storey building constructed around a central courtyard, featuring two lean-on roofs and porch. The tiles, which gave the name of Gök Medrese to the building, are located in the courtyard facades. Main iwan walls and inside of the arches of the top floor porticos are decorated with font, geometric and floral decorations on eggplant purple, dark blue and turquoise colored tiles. The portal which reflects Anatolian Seljuk stone ornament, was built by using two-colored stones and decorated with borders of which geometric and floral ornaments.
Gök Medrese underwent restoration and redesign work in 1982, as a result of which the building was reopened as a museum, with various archaeological and ethnographical collections.
In exhibition rooms are architectural remains, bone, metal, stone and baked clay artifacts from Bronze, Hittite and Iron ages discovered in Masat Tumulus (Zile) excavations; goods from Hanözü excavations, as well as items from Christianity era and other ethnographical items.
Historically invaluable coins and ornamental items are also among precious collections the Museum houses. In the Museum, items from Anatolian civilizations and those findings from Ulutepe (Turhal) excavations are displayed side by side with items from Roman and Byzantine periods.
Archaeological works of the museum are kitchenware pots which are made of ceramics, glass or metallic,jugs,amphorae,tankards, perfume and tear bottles, the god –goddess sculptures, cuneiform tablets, jewelry and some guns like ;arrowhead, spearhead and ax .
Ethnographical items that reflect life around Tokat are exhibited as a rich collection with traditional clothes and goods for daily use. These artifacts are mainly ; copper works, weaving, textiles, carpets, rugs, clothing , jewelry, tools for lighting, door knockers, weapons, bath and kitchen utensils ; belonging to history of Tokat and religious order items, manuscripts of books and writing sets belonging to Ottoman Empire.
Coins: The city has got a variety of coins belonging to all civilizations starting from the Hellenistic Period till the end of Ottoman Empire.
The big part of the collection is Seljuk hoard which was found during excavations of Niksar storks fountain in 1982. This treasure consists of silver coins. The importance of collection is due to the cities in which they were printed, diversity of sultans as well as quantities. The other important part of the collection consists of Ottoman and Venetian gold coins which were found in 1985.
Archaeological work: 3783 Ethnographic work: 2595 Coins: 29760 Grand Total: 36138
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