Turkey > Corum's Museums

Corum's Museums

Corum Museum in the historic building featuring typical architectural characteristics of the 19th century was opened to visitors in 2003 subsequent to a major restoration work. The first showcase in the museum displays: artefacts from the Chalcolithic Age (5500- * 3000 BC) found at Alacahoyiik and Kujsaray excavations; items dating from the Early Bronze Age and belonging to the Hattis, the native people of Anatolia before the Hittites; metal weapons; ornaments; ceremonial symbols and ceramic works found at Alacahoyiik. There is a typical copy of the same period Alacahoyiik graves, an L shaped grave containing a skeleton, bull and deer statuettes, ceremonial symbols, ornaments, and heads of the bulls sacrificed for funeral dinner.

The artefacts dating back to the Age of Assyrian Trade Colonies (1900-1700 BC) and the Hiiseyindede vases bearing reliefs from the Early Hittite Period (1650 BC) are aesthetic and charming. Early Hittite Period ceramic works found around Hattusha- Bogazkale, Eskiyapar and Chorum Dam, a model of Hittite capital Hattusha and another architectural model depicting Hittite stone foundation, adobe wall, stone-paved courtyard and food jars are also among the museum's displays.Enchanting bronze sword belonging to the Hittite King Tuthalia II bearing cuneiform writings (1430 BC) occupies a special place in the museum collection.

The ceramic works found at Alacahoyiik and dated from the Hittite Empire Period; cuneiform tablets from the Hittite Period; gold ornaments; embroidered obsidians; stamp seals from the Hittites and their contemporaries Assyrians and Babylonians; Hittite toys such as bells; and god statuettes are other important pieces in the museum.

Ceramic items unearthed during the Ortakoy- §apinuva excavation, metal arrowheads, sickles, axes, daggers, spearheads, bracelets and needles are among the Hittite works on display in the museum. Besides the Phrygian, Hellenistic. Galatian and Roman ceramic works, Corum Museum has also a coin collection.

The Ethnography Hall houses items reflecting regional and cultural characteristics of Corum as well as traditional Turkish art. There are also three separate rooms exemplifying copper smithing, chickpeas roasting and a Turkish coffeehouse Artefacts dated back to various periods, such as the examples of Turkish art from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods to the present, are exhibited in the Museum garden in special conditions.

Alacahoyiik Museum has a good collection of regional artefacts including Chalcolithic, Bronze, Hittite and Phrygian works excavated form Alacahoyiik. Bogazkoy Museum offers unique perspectives on Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine era works found from Bogazkoy-Hattusha excavations.