İstanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeology Museum

The museum was established from the “Prehistory Department Collection” created by Prof. Dr. Halet Çambel. Since the 1940s, the Archaeology Department professors of Istanbul University have conducted significant excavations spanning from Prehistoric to Classical periods across Turkey. Some artifacts unearthed from these excavations were brought to Istanbul University for repair and study, and stored in the departments’ storages and laboratories.

The collection initially comprised materials from important sites like Alişar, Alacahöyük, Yumuktepe, Tarsus Gözlükule, and Van Castle, donated by the Ankara Museum in the 1940s. It was later enriched with pottery fragments from excavations like Boğazköy, Hacılar, Phrygia, Hasköy, Keban, and Atatürk Dam reservoir rescue excavations. International pieces from North America, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Iraq, and Iran have also been added, making it one of Turkey’s most comprehensive archaeological collections.

The collection was registered in 1985 as the Prehistory/Prehistoric Department Collection in the name of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan. In 2003, archaeological materials from the departments of Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Ancient History, Hittitology, Art History, and Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration were incorporated into the collection.

In 2012, efforts to establish a museum for displaying the artifacts began by renovating the basement of the south wing of the Faculty of Letters. The museum was officially approved as “Istanbul University Archaeology and Cultural History Museum” in 2013. However, due to physical and security concerns, a new location for the museum was sought in 2014. Eventually, the courtyard between the Science and Letters Faculties was chosen. With the donation from businessman Rıdvan Çelikel, a new building was constructed, and the museum opened as the Istanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeology Museum on July 1, 2019.

Museum Collection:

The museum exhibits unique and significant artifacts representing various periods from the Paleolithic Age (before the Neolithic, approximately 10,000 BC), through the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages to the Roman Era, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. The collection includes flint stones (silex), volcanic glasses (obsidian), bone or metal tools, pottery, statues, figurines, tablets, cutting, protective and striking weapons, glassware, ornaments, needles, seals, masks, coins, daily use tools and utensils, and ceramic samples, all displayed chronologically.

Website: Istanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeology Museum Website

Address: Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Mimar Kemalettin, Ordu Street, 34130 Fatih/Istanbul

Phone: +90 (212) 440 00 00/16044

Email: [email protected]

Visiting Information:

• Open Days: Weekdays from 09:00 to 16:30.
• Closed Days: Closed on weekends and public holidays.
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Who Can Visit: Open to all.
• Transportation: Accessible via Bağcılar-Kabataş tram, Yenikapı-Hacıosman metro, and municipal buses towards Beyazıt. Tram and bus users can get off at Laleli stop (next to Istanbul University Faculty of Letters). Metro users can get off at Vezneciler metro station.

Responsible Unit: Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Prehistoric Archaeology