Visitors to Ankara can enjoy a wide array of great attractions, many of which reflect the rich history of Turkey and the many peoples and empires that have played a part in building up such a rich historical tapestry. However, there is no better place to learn about this than in the Anatolian Civilisations Museum, which provides a deep and detailed insight to help teach visitors about the country’s past. Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, the museum is a caravanserai located on the same hill as the ancient Citadel of Ankara, close to Ulus Square.
Its collection of artefacts is not just a record of the historic, but the prehistoric, with some items dating back as far as 7,500 years ago among the collection of Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age items. In these times the near east had already established farming and developments like the first cities, trade and metallurgy followed. Among the items on show is the biggest array of Hittite artefacts in the world, with this group having formed a powerful empire around 1680 BC that covered much of what is now Turkey and Syria. The Hittites were a major regional power of the day, rivalling the Egyptians and Babylonians. Also on display are items from the Phrygian and Urartu kingdoms and the Lydian period, while Roman Ankara is also well represented, covering the period when it was part of the province of Galatia.
From statues and tablets to jewellery, pots and cooking utensils, the array of items is fascinating and diverse. For a hint of history nearer the modern time, the building itself is a fine representation of Ottoman architecture. Inside, the museum was fully renovated and expanded between 2010 and 2014. It had been originally opened back in 1921 and has been collecting artefacts ever since, but it only moved to its current site in 1997. Visitors can enter between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every day of the year, except for the first day of religious holidays. With so much to see inside, this is one place you cannot visit Ankara without seeing.
