Turkey's first necropolis museum opens in Antalya
The Necropolis Museum has opened in Antalya. Turkey's first necropolis museum contains tombs dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C. and the 5th century A.D. The tombs were discovered during construction excavations that began here in 2008.
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Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the Antalya Necropolis Museum is the first of its kind in Turkey, noting that 866 tombs were found during rescue excavations at the site.
Ersoy attended the opening of the Antalya Necropolis Museum at the East Garage (Doğu Garajı) as part of the Turkey Culture Route Festival, which held its final stop in Antalya, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
TOMBS DISCOVERED IN 2008
Citing necropolis museums in Spain, Rome, the Vatican, and Bulgaria as examples, Ersoy said, "Today, we have opened the Necropolis Museum in Antalya. It is Turkey's first necropolis museum. There are tombs dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C. and the 5th century A.D. The tombs were reached during construction excavations that began here in 2008."
Explaining that rescue excavations were initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2008, Ersoy said the following:
"During the rescue excavations, 866 tombs were found. It was decided by our then-mayor Menderes Türel that a necropolis museum should be built here. These efforts were continued during the term of Muhittin Böcek. The work was completed last year and transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as of July. We quickly completed the furnishing tenders and finished it in time for the Culture Route Festival."
Stating that the museum also includes exhibition halls, Ersoy noted that artists' works will be displayed throughout the festival.
Expressing that the museum will contribute to Antalya's cultural richness, Ersoy said, "In the Antalya Necropolis Museum, not only are remains from this region displayed, but more than 400 objects brought from the Antalya Museum are also on exhibit here."