Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum

The museum is a large complex in southeastern Turkey with two main buildings dedicated to displaying archaeological finds from the region. The exhibition halls present pottery, sculptures, jewelry, and mosaics that document the development of human settlements and daily life across different periods.

The institution was founded in 1969 and operated in modest spaces before moving to a purpose-built facility in recent years. The collection expanded significantly as archaeologists continued to excavate and study the many ancient sites surrounding the city.

The collections show how people lived and organized their daily lives across thousands of years in this region. You can see the objects they used, the images they created, and the spaces they built together.

The museum is located within the city and accessible by walking from the center, with clear signage and information panels throughout the exhibition halls. Plan to spend several hours to comfortably explore the collections and read the displays at a leisurely pace.

The collection includes a limestone sculpture of a human figure that is over 9000 years old, standing life-sized and representing one of the earliest attempts to carve the human form. This work reveals that artists here were creating detailed human representations in a period long before written history began.

Location: Şanlıurfa Province

Inception: 1969

GPS coordinates: 37.16056,38.78806

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:28