The museum, showcasing artefacts acquired from Erzurum and the surrounding provinces through various methods, was initially established in 1944 at the Yakutiye Madrasa. The museum moved to Çifte Minareli Madrasa in 1947 and continued its function there for about 20 years. In response to the growing demand, a decision was made in 1964 to construct a new museum building in Erzurum. The museum, located in the Murat Paşa neighborhood, was opened to the public in 1968 after the completion of its construction. A decision was made to construct a new museum building due to the insufficient capacity and seismic vulnerability of the museum building that had served for approximately 55 years. The New Archaeology Museum, initiated in 2018 and completed in 2021, is now open for visitation as of August 19, 2023, in the Rabiaana Neighborhood of the Yakutiye District in Erzurum Province. The new museum building has a total area of approximately 11,159 m², consisting of around 2,350 m² of indoor space, 2,750 m² of open space (garden), a 5,100 m² exhibition area, and an approximately 2,000 m² artefact storage section. The museum's exhibition halls showcase artefacts that offer insights into various aspects, including the cultural development, production, lifestyle, art, religious beliefs, and traditions of the communities that once inhabited our region.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS HALL ETNOGRAPHIC ARTEFACTS HALL
Natural History Section The museum showcases a mammoth fossil dating back approximately 500,000 years, unearthed during excavation work in Erzurum's Pasinler District's Yayladağı Village, along with mollusk and plant fossils representing various geological periods in the region. In this section, cutting tools and stone axes made of obsidian formed by the cooling of lava after volcanic eruptions are exhibited. Excavations Section The Eastern Anatolia Region, positioned at the crossroads between Mesopotamia to the south, Iran to the east, the Caucasus to the northeast, and Central Anatolia to the west, has been a pivotal intersection and transition point for diverse cultures throughout millennia, fostering significant connections between them. The Kura–Araxes Culture, spanning from the late 4th millennium BCE to the late 3rd millennium BCE and prevalent in the region for about a millennium, is notably concentrated in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, particularly in Erzurum and its environs. Its significant importance in interregional relations arises from its resemblances to findings in Iran (Geoy Tepe), South Caucasus (Trialeti), and Khirbet Kerak (Palestine) under different names. Objects from the Trans-Caucasian Culture, which spread from the western part of the Van Basin in Eastern Anatolia to around Lake Urmia in the Southeast and extended to Georgia in the Northeast during the 2nd millennium BCE, are displayed. These ceramics are noteworthy for their triangular patterns, waterfowl, and mountain goat figures on a background of light brown and red colors. Urartian Artefacts and Inscriptions Between the 9th and 6th centuries BCE, the Urartians established a formidable kingdom that spanned a vast region, reaching from Transcaucasia in the north to northwestern Iran in the east, the Euphrates River in the west, and the southeastern Taurus Mountains in the south. The Urartians, whose origins are traced back to the Hurrians, left behind numerous fortresses, rock architecture, dams, and irrigation facilities, and the museum displays terracotta and metal vessels, decorative items, seals, weapons, votive inscriptions, rhytons, and cuneiform inscriptions, showcasing the advanced civilization of the Urartian culture.Taş Baba Stele These tombstones were erected on the graves of individuals belonging to the upper class and soldiers who died in battle. The tombstone located in the Şenkaya District of Erzurum depicts a male face with a belt around the waist, holding a cup in hand. The museum awaits visitors with artefacts ranging from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman and Hellenistic periods, including jewelry, tear bottles, alabasters, metal objects, ceramic vessels, and Ottoman period tombstones.
ETNOGRAPHIC ARTEFACTS HALL
The ethnographic artefacts section on the museum's upper floor warmly welcomes visitors with a faithful reconstruction of Erzurum Castle Clock Tower and a portion of the crown gate from the Yakutiye Madrasa, two of Erzurum's monumental structures. This section is particularly noteworthy for its portrayal of Ebu'l Kasım SALTUK, who ruled in Erzurum and its surroundings, along with his grandson and Mama Hatun, who governed in Tercan and also held a leadership role in Erzurum for a period. Furthermore, in this section, glazed ceramics from the Great Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods, as well as metal locks from the Anatolian Seljuks, are exhibited. Muş Malazgirt Section Discovered during canal excavation by the Malazgirt Municipality in 1986 near the government building in Muş's Malazgirt district, and revealed through rescue excavations conducted by our Directorate, the exhibition features Seljuk period artefacts, including finials (dragon-headed finial and tree of life), as well as various jewelry items like bracelets, earrings, rings, necklace pendants, and coins from different historical periods. The artefacts, subjected to restoration and conservation efforts between 2016 and 2017, have become particularly striking examples in the exhibition. It is evident that the doubleheaded dragon, embodying typical features of Seljuk dragons, signifies the supremacy of the sun and goodness, serving as both the celestial and terrestrial dragon symbolizing abundance and prosperity, while the tree of life represents fertility and abundance Glazed plates and mortars are also exhibited in this section. Ottoman Bazaar In this section, items from the Ottoman Period such as bath accessories, locks, weighing tools, copper vessels, and metal artefacts are exhibited. Our tour through this ethnographic exhibition hall, concluding with a depiction of Aziziye Fort during the 187778 Ottoman-Russian War, known as the War of 93, and a reenactment with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Governor Münir AKKAYA, and their companions gathered around a table inspired by a square photograph from the National Struggle years, as well as representations of the extraction of a specific type of lignite in the Oltu district of Erzurum, the unique craftsmanship of Oltu stone indigenous to the region, and reenactments of traditional Erzurum hançer barı, a folk dance with daggers.
