Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum

Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum is one of the important institutions in Türkiye's Kahramanmaraş province, housing the region's archaeological heritage. The museum was first established in 1947 in the Taş Medrese, relocated to Kahramanmaraş Castle in 1961, and then moved to its current building on Azerbaycan Bulvarı in 1975. The current building, whose foundation was laid in 1977, opened to the public on 29 November 1975 with three exhibition halls. In response to increasing exhibition needs, it was redesigned and expanded with additional structures, reopening on 4 May 2012 with seven halls.

Due to the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, the museum was temporarily closed to visitors. The building, which holds approximately 30,000 artifacts, possesses an extensive archaeological collection spanning from antiquity to the present. The museum also includes a children’s education hall, a multipurpose meeting hall, and an outdoor exhibition area.

^{Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum} (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Ancient Elephant Exhibition Hall: Two ancient elephant skeletons, dated to the 14th century BCE, excavated from the Gâvur Gölü marshland in the Türkoğlu district, are displayed in this hall. These skeletons were transferred to the museum in the 1970s.

^{Ancient Elephant Exhibition Hall} (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Direkli Cave Excavation and Reconstruction Hall: A full-scale reconstruction of Direkli Cave, located in Yukarı Döngel Village of the Tekir Township in the central district, has been created. Excavation findings from the site, which has been under excavation since 2007, are exhibited in this hall.

^{Direkli Cave Excavation and Reconstruction Hall} (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Domuztepe Höyük Reconstruction and Excavation Exhibition Hall: The excavation site of Domuztepe Höyük, located in Emirler Village of the Pazarcık district and dated to 7000–5000 BCE, has been reconstructed. Archaeological finds from the site are displayed alongside the reconstruction.

^{Domuztepe Höyük Reconstruction and Excavation Exhibition Hall} (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Hittite and Late Hittite Artifacts Exhibition Hall: This hall displays artifacts belonging to the Kingdom of Gurgum from the Late Hittite period. Exhibits include the Maraş Lion, deity statues, and various stelae found around Kahramanmaraş Castle, as well as examples from Türkoğlu Minehöyük, Pazarcık, Doğanlıkarahasan Village, Afşin Yazıbelen (Hurman) Village, and Arıtaş Höyük.

Mosaic Exhibition Hall: A floor mosaic from Ancient City of Germanicia was discovered in 2000 and brought to the museum following a rescue excavation in 2001. Another floor mosaic, recovered from Çağlayancerit district, is also exhibited here. These mosaics provide insight into the artistic sensibilities and daily life of the Late Roman period.

^{Mosaic Exhibition Hall} (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Stone Artifacts Exhibition Hall: This section displays examples of Roman-period funerary architecture, including tomb stelae, sarcophagi, and terracotta burial urns.

Chronological Archaeological Artifacts Exhibition Hall: Archaeological materials from the Paleolithic through the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, Iron, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are displayed in chronological order. Objects on display in the vitrines include tools and coins used in daily life.

In the front and rear courtyards of the museum, stone artifacts from the Hittite, Greek, Roman, and Ottoman periods, terracotta cubes, and wooden door examples from Kahramanmaraş Castle are exhibited.

Germanicia Ancient City, located in Şeyhadil Neighborhood of the Dulkadiroğlu district, covers an area of 140 hectares. Excavations since 2007 have identified 31 distinct locations with floor mosaics and structural remains. The mosaics provide information about the social structure, religious beliefs, daily life, and local fauna and flora of the period. Some of these mosaics are displayed in the Mosaic Exhibition Hall within the museum building.