--- title: Sivas Archaeology Museum slug: sivas-archaeology-museum-c9962 url: /detay/sivas-archaeology-museum-c9962 type: article language: English entity: primary: Sivas Archaeology Museum type: article disambiguation: Explore Sivas Archaeology Museum: Discover Turkey's rich history through diverse artifacts from the Paleolithic era to the Byzantine period. categories: - name: General Knowledge slug: genel-kultur url: /kategori/genel-kultur - name: Travel And Tourism slug: seyahat-ve-turizm url: /kategori/seyahat-ve-turizm - name: Archeology slug: arkeoloji url: /kategori/arkeoloji tags: - ArchaeologicalArtifacts - MuseumCollections - SivasCulturalHeritage - ÇarpanaWeaving - Sivas author: Ahsen Güneş created_at: 2025-08-16T13:41:22.023705+03:00 updated_at: 2025-09-01T14:39:57.727567+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/08/16/gaysnrQtcWBF78ZEdCYldQ7Acdz1epDS.webp --- # Sivas Archaeology Museum ## KURE Information Cards ![805f52cf-1f73-4ede-9ab3-6820d3e26d40.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/08/16/gn70al2JB0vwk6ISdAUDe4jSi7jYINXJ.jpg) *Sivas Archaeology Museum* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Type(s) | Archaeology Museum | | Location | Sivas / Türkiye | | Visiting Information | Open every day except Monday | | Highlighted Artifacts | Terracotta figurines from the Hittite period, Marble statues from the Roman period, Metal ornaments from the Phrygian period, Ethnographic artifacts from the Sivas region, Card-weaving textile collection. | | Affiliation | Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism | | Address(es) | Sivas City Center,Atatürk Street | ## Article Content The [Sivas Archaeology Museum](/en/detay/sivas-arkeoloji-muzesi-3f134/llms.txt) is an important [museum](/en/detay/sivas-muzesi/llms.txt) reflecting the historical and cultural heritage of the city. It is a center where artifacts from different periods of Türkiye are exhibited. It serves as a meeting point with history for its visitors. ### **History and Institutional Development of the Museum** The **Sivas Archaeology Museum** was first established in 1922, under the directives of **Atatürk**, in a room of **Sivas High School**. Later, in 1939, the artifacts were moved to **Buruciye Madrasa**, where they were exhibited for many years. In 1967, the museum gained an institutional identity and continued its activities under the name **Sivas Museum**. In 1990, the museum's collections were separated from those of the **Atatürk and Congress Museum**, and in 2009 it was relocated to its current building, where it still operates today. The new museum building is one of the largest archaeology museums in **Türkiye**. Covering an area of 18,000 square meters, the museum has been designed in accordance with contemporary museology principles and features an exhibition layout supported by scientific research. ### **Architectural Features** The museum building is constructed in a modern architectural style. At the entrance, there are information, security, and souvenir units, while the upper floors host administrative offices. The exhibition halls follow a chronological order, offering visitors a sense of historical continuity. The layout, supported by lighting, digital panels, interactive screens, and explanatory information boards, emphasizes the educational function. ### **Displayed Artifact Groups and Chronological Distribution** #### **Paleolithic Period** The oldest findings in the museum date back to the Paleolithic Period. Particularly notable are the flint tools, scrapers, and cutting implements discovered during surface surveys within the borders of **Sivas Province**, reflecting the traces of humanity's earliest production activities in the region. #### **Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods** Among the finds from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are obsidian blades, pottery fragments, and stone axes. The majority of these artifacts were obtained from the areas of **Ulaş**, **Altınyayla**, and **İmranlı**. #### **Bronze Age** Findings from the Early, Middle, and Late Bronze Age are among the museum’s most important collections. Particularly noteworthy are the terracotta vessels, metal objects, and figurines obtained from significant archaeological sites such as **Kültepe**, **Alişar**, and **Kayalıpınar**. Seals, reliefs, and ceramics from the **Hittite** culture are other highlights of this section. #### **Iron Age and Urartian Period** The museum also houses various ceramic vessels, bronze belt fragments, and ornaments from the **Urartian** civilization. These artifacts reflect the geometric and figurative decorative features of Urartian art. #### **Roman and Byzantine Periods** Mosaics, statue heads, steles, and glassware from the Roman period are among the most striking sections of the museum. In particular, sarcophagi, inscriptions, and tombstones from the ancient city of **Sebasteia (Sivas)** are important in terms of Roman epigraphy and art. Cross-shaped ornaments, lamps, and religious objects from the Byzantine period are also exhibited in a separate section. #### **Seljuk and Ottoman Periods** The collection includes glazed ceramic fragments, tile samples, bronze lamps, and glassware from the Seljuk period. Additionally, coins, seals, ceramics, and everyday objects dating back to the [Ottoman](/en/detay/sivas-3455e/llms.txt) period are on display. Examples of wood carving, stone masonry, and imperial decrees showcase the craftsmanship of the era. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/17/7KQXALryLaYIcWinWqbA5y67wn1hLBK6.png) *Hittite Bulls ( TurkıshMuseums)* ### **Featured Artifacts** - **Kayalıpınar Seals**: Clay seals providing important insights into the functioning of the Hittite bureaucracy. - **Sivas Roman Sarcophagus**: A tomb structure adorned with relief figures, reflecting the art style of the period. - **Urartian Bronze Belt**: An object with rich craftsmanship, decorated with various geometric motifs. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/17/qE1zaL6lXqWREGvJtMppbm5j4jyvCj6p.png) *A pure gold seal ring from the Hittite Period and gold artifacts from the Urartuian Period, featuring figures such as a double-headed eagle and a bull, were found in a field near Yarhisar village in the Kangal district of Sivas (TurkıshMuseums)* - **Byzantine Cross-Motif Stone Objects**: Examples of stonework reflecting religious symbols and iconography. ### **Archaeological Excavations and Scientific Studies** The museum serves not only as an exhibition space but also as a center for excavations and rescue operations in the region. Finds obtained from excavations at sites such as **Kayalıpınar**, **Altınyayla**, and **Kültepe** are added to the museum inventory and documented with scientific records. Conservation and restoration works are also carried out in laboratory conditions. ### **Educational and Cultural Role** The museum serves not only through its collections but also with its educational and cultural activities. Guided tours for school groups, workshops, and temporary exhibitions aim to raise archaeological awareness among the local population and students. The museum also contributes to museology symposiums held at both local and national levels. The Sivas Archaeology Museum, with its rich collections, contemporary exhibition layout, and contributions to scientific research, is an important archaeological center not only on a regional but also on a national scale. The systematic exhibition of artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic Age to the Ottoman period makes the museum valuable both scientifically and culturally. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Turkish Museums. ''Sivas Arkeoloji Müzesi Kataloğu.'' T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://turkishmuseums.com/Uploads/M%C3%BCze/Dosya/b26fd740-2f45-4176-a662-3a0f20e79907.pdf.Sivas İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü. “Arkeoloji Müzesi.” Sivas.ktb.gov.tr. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://sivas.ktb.gov.tr/TR-358550/arkeoloji-muzesi.html.Özcan, Ali, and Ali Alkan. “Sivas Arkeoloji Müzesi’nden Bir Grup Balta/Keski.” Propontica 3, no. 5 (2025): 23–48. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4502348.T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. “Sivas Arkeoloji Müzesi - Sivas.” Kulturportali.gov.tr. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/sivas/gezilecekyer/arkeoloj-muzes327586.Karaman, Şirin, and Mehmet Fatih Çakmaktepe. “Sivas Arkeoloji Müzesi’nde Bulunan Çarpana Dokumalar.” Art-e Sanat Dergisi 14, no. 28 (2023): 816–830. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/sduarte/issue/67306/983362. ## Related Articles - [Alanya Archaeology Museum](//detay/alanya-archaeology-museum-88b71/llms.txt) - [Şahinbey National Struggle Museum](//detay/sahinbey-national-struggle-museum-8b7b5/llms.txt) - [St. Paul Monument Museum](//detay/st-paul-monument-museum-782a8/llms.txt) - [Tekirdağ Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography](//detay/tekirdag-museum-of-archaeology-and-ethnography-3ff/llms.txt)