Şanlıurfa Museum draws over 1 mln visitors

Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, housing unique artifacts from the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, is a year-round destination for history and culture enthusiasts.

Located near the historical Balıklıgöl site in the eastern province of Şanlıurfa, the museum spans 60,000 square meters and was opened in 2015. It displays artifacts chronologically with visual representations of the periods they belong to.

The museum houses millennia-old artifacts, including those from Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, which shed light on the Neolithic era and are described as the "zero point of history."

The museum, which contains carved stones with hundreds of human and animal figures, cemeteries and inscriptions, offers visitors the opportunity to explore a wide range of artifacts.

Displaying around 5,000 artifacts, the museum offers insights into ancient lifestyles and attracts thousands of visitors.

Shedding light on past lifestyles, the museum has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors since its opening.

Şanlıurfa Museum Director Celal Uludağ told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the museum's construction began in 2012 and was opened to the public in 2015.

Highlighting that Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum is among the world's top museums, Uludağ said that it can be defined as the "largest museum complex in Türkiye," housing artifacts from Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, Harran and Urfa Castle.

"Our museum attracts significant interest from both local and international visitors. As a leading example of modern museology, it offers a time-travel-like experience," Uludağ said.

"With its spacious design, the museum allows visitors to explore comfortably through around 33 dioramas, 14 exhibition halls and...