Overview
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is located in the At Pazarı district, near the southeastern outer wall of Ankara Castle. It consists of two restored Ottoman-era buildings that have been repurposed for museum use. The Mahmut Pasha Bazaar is believed to have been built between 1464 and 1471 by Mahmut Pasha, the grand vizier of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The Kurşunlu Han was commissioned by another grand vizier of the same era, Mehmet Pasha, as a foundation (vakıf) to support his charitable complex in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul. Both structures were abandoned following a fire in 1881, but were later restored over many years upon the request of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in order to exhibit artifacts collected from across Anatolia. The museum officially opened in 1921. Today, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is recognized as one of the leading museums in the world, with its rich and unique collections. Artifacts ranging from the Paleolithic Age to the Ottoman Period are exhibited in chronological order. On April 19, 1997, the museum was awarded the title of “Museum of the Year” in Lausanne, Switzerland, ranking first among 68 museums from various countries.