Anatolian Civilizations Museum

Anatolian Civilizations Museum – A World-Class Journey Through Time

Ranked among the world’s leading museums for its exceptional and unique collections, the Anatolian Civilizations Museum presents the archaeological heritage of Anatolia in a remarkable chronological layout. From the Paleolithic Age to the Ottoman period, the museum offers visitors an unparalleled journey through thousands of years of human history, displayed within two magnificent Ottoman structures: the Mahmut Paşa Bedesteni and the Kurşunlu Han.Awarded the prestigious “European Museum of the Year” in 1997, the museum continues to captivate visitors with its carefully curated thematic halls.

Upper Hall

The upper floor consists of eight sections representing the major eras of Anatolian archaeology. The exhibition begins with the earliest traces of human presence and progresses through the formative stages of settled life and the rise of powerful ancient kingdoms.

The sections include:

• Paleolithic Age
• Neolithic Age
• Chalcolithic Age
• Early Bronze Age
• Assyrian Trade Colonies Period
• Old Hittite Kingdom & Hittite Empire Period
• Phrygian Kingdom
• Urartian Kingdom

With its renewed exhibition design and carefully selected masterpieces, the Upper Hall continues to impress visitors with its depth, harmony, and visual storytelling.

Stone Artifacts Hall

Located beneath the ten domes of the central hall of the Mahmut Paşa Bedesteni, this section features an extraordinary collection of stone sculptures and reliefs from the Hittite and Neo-Hittite kingdoms. Monumental orthostats, stelae, and sacred symbolic carvings provide a powerful insight into the artistic and religious world of these ancient cultures.

Lower Hall

The lower floor consists of two thematic areas: Ankara Through the Ages and Classical Periods.

Ankara Through the Ages

This section displays artifacts uncovered during excavations across Ankara, documenting the city’s continuous settlement from prehistory to the present.

Classical Periods

Here, visitors encounter an impressive collection spanning:

• Archaic Period
• Classical Period
• Hellenistic Period
• Roman Period
• Byzantine Period
• Ottoman Period

Gold, silver, glass, marble, and bronze objects illustrate the artistic achievements, daily life, and craftsmanship of these civilizations. The lower floor also houses the museum’s extensive coin collection, featuring examples from the earliest minted coins to modern times, offering a comprehensive look at the evolution of currency throughout history.