Archaeological Museum · 20th–21st century · Şanlıurfa, Turkey

Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum

The Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museums form a major archaeological institution in the south-eastern Turkish city of Şanlıurfa, holding finds from some of the most significant prehistoric and ancient sites in the world, including Göbekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe, and Harran. The complex is one of the most important repositories of pre-pottery Neolithic material anywhere on earth, reflecting the region’s role as a cradle of early human civilisation.

At a glance

Type: State archaeological and mosaic museum complex
Period: Modern institution holding collections spanning c. 10,000 BCE to the Islamic period
Style: Contemporary museum building; Mosaic Museum housed separately at the Haleplibahce archaeological site
Location: Haleplibahce Mahallesi, Eyyubiye, Sanliurfa, Turkey
Coordinates: 37.1537° N, 38.7797° E

Overview

The Sanliurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museums are located in the south-eastern city of Sanliurfa, Turkey. The museums contain remains from Sanliurfa, Gobekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe, Harran, and findings from the Southeastern Anatolia Project, including ruins found in the hydroelectric dam reservoirs of the Ataturk, Birecik, and Karkamis dams. Both museums are located at Haleplibahce Mahallesi, forming a single destination for the extraordinary deep prehistory of this region of upper Mesopotamia.

History

Sanliurfa (ancient Edessa) has been a continuously inhabited region for at least 12,000 years. The museum complex was developed to house and present the rapidly growing volume of finds from excavations in the surrounding region, above all the world-famous T-shaped monolithic pillars of Gobekli Tepe — considered the world’s oldest known monumental structure, dating to around 9600 BCE. The Mosaic Museum, opened within the Haleplibahce complex, was created specifically to display extraordinary Roman-era mosaic floors uncovered during rescue excavations linked to the Southeastern Anatolia Project.

What you see

The Archaeology Museum displays pre-pottery Neolithic sculpture and tools from Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe, Bronze Age and Iron Age material from Harran, and finds spanning the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. The centrepiece of the Mosaic Museum is the Haleplibahce mosaic, depicting the Amazon queen Antiope and Achilles — among the finest Roman mosaic floors found in Turkey. Stone statues, including the remarkable Urfa Man (believed to be one of the world’s oldest life-size human sculptures), are among the most visited exhibits.

Cultural significance

Few museum complexes in the world hold material that reaches as far back into human prehistory as the Sanliurfa collections. The finds from Gobekli Tepe alone have rewritten the timeline of organised human activity, predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by thousands of years. The museum is thus a landmark destination for anyone interested in the origins of civilisation.

Practical information

Address: Haleplibahce Mahallesi 2372 Sok, Eyyubiye, Sanliurfa, Turkey
Opening hours: Check official website or Turkish Ministry of Culture for current hours; museums are generally open Tuesday–Sunday
Admission: Paid entry; check official website for current fees; combined tickets for both museums may be available

Getting there

Sanliurfa GAP Airport connects the city to Istanbul and Ankara with daily flights. The museum complex is located on the north-eastern edge of the city centre, approximately 3 km from the main bazaar area; taxis and city buses both serve the area. Visiting Gobekli Tepe (18 km north-east of the city) can be combined with the museum on the same day using a car hire or organised tour.

Sources & resources

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Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum