Samsun Museum set to open showcasing rare artifacts

The museum, which includes the Amisos Treasure and the skull of a human operated on 5,000 years ago, will be opened with the participation of the minister of culture and tourism

The New Samsun Museum, a project spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is poised to open its doors on Wednesday, March 13, with Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy gracing the ceremony.

The museum, now complete with all its historical artifacts, promises to be a unique institution. It will house treasures like the Amisos Treasure, considered the most valuable after Türkiye’s Karun Treasure, and a skull bearing the marks of 5,000-year-old brain surgery.

Unique artifacts on display

The Amisos Treasure, a very valuable artifact belonging to the dynasty members of the Kingdom of Pontus, was found during a construction excavation in Samsun on Nov. 28, 1995. The treasure, which consists of 64 pieces, will be featured in the Samsun Museum. The history of gold artifacts dates back to the first century B.C.

5,000-year-old skull with surgical scars

In an archaeological discovery of great significance, skulls dating back 5,000 years were unearthed during the longest systematic excavation in the Black Sea region. Unearthed from Early Bronze Age graves at Ikiztepe Mound, these artifacts offer a glimpse into the lives of people who lived millennia ago and are now on display in a museum.

This discovery represents the largest healed skull hole ever identified in Anatolia. The skulls belong to adult males, and evidence suggests the surgical procedure involved creating a hole that narrowed over time. Remarkably, these individuals apparently survived the surgery and lived on for a while afterward.

The museum has a rich collection spanning various eras. This includes coins from the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and Republican periods. A highlight is the sprawling Amisos Mosaic, covering 56 square meters. Jewelry from the Chalcolithic to Roman times further illuminates the past.

Beyond artifacts, the museum showcases architectural elements like arches and sculptures alongside fascinating glimpses into everyday life through tombs, warship models, and clothing from different historical periods. It even features artifacts related to the Turkish War of Independence.

The 22,222-square-meter Samsun Museum, which includes a conference hall for 346 people, a library for 120 people, artifact exhibition halls, laboratories, a restaurant, a guest exhibition hall and a very large area, is counting days for the official opening with 1,117 archaeological artifacts, 268 ethnographic artifacts and 5,780 coins.

Source: Newsroom