Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara is a national museum presenting archaeological material from across Anatolia, covering periods from the Paleolithic through classical and medieval eras. It is housed in historic, restored buildings near Ankara Castle.

Galleries are arranged chronologically and include notable Hittite stone reliefs and artifacts, Neolithic material from Çatalhöyük, and displays that document technological and social developments in central Anatolia. The layout and restoration of the historic structures are part of the visitor experience, with exhibits distributed across multiple connected halls.

The museum was established to centralize and display finds from excavations across Anatolia and was installed in historic Ottoman-era buildings near the citadel after restoration. It has since served as a central repository for major Anatolian archaeological collections.

Situated on the southern slope of Ankara Castle in the old city core, the museum is within walking distance of other central historic sites and is a standard stop on cultural routes through Turkey’s capital.

• Setting and scope: Located on the southern slope of Ankara Castle, the museum occupies restored historic buildings and presents artifacts spanning Paleolithic to Ottoman periods.
• Collections focus: Collections include major finds from central Anatolian excavations such as Hittite and Neolithic sites, making it a key museum for early Anatolian archaeology.

What to See #

• Prehistory galleries: Prehistory and Neolithic galleries displaying artefacts from Çatalhöyük and other early Anatolian settlements, illustrating early farming and village life.
• Hittite and Bronze Age collection: Hittite and Bronze Age halls containing carved reliefs, stelae and stone sculptures recovered from central Anatolian sites such as Hattusa.
• Iron Age and later displays: Smaller displays of Phrygian, Urartian and later Anatolian material that trace cultural continuity across millennia in central Turkey.