Batman Museum

Batman Museum is an archaeology museum located in the city of Batman, Türkiye, operating under the authority of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The museum features exhibition halls displaying artifacts from the Paleolithic to the Medieval period, along with a laboratory, library, Müzepark application area, and documentary presentation units. As the central administrative and storage facility for rescue excavations conducted at mounds in Batman and Siirt provinces, the museum also undertakes the function of documenting and transmitting the regional culture.

Batman Museum (Culture Portal)

History

The Batman Museum Directorate was established by the Council of Ministers Decision No. 2009/14663, published in the Official Gazette No. 27148 on 21 February 2009. The institution officially commenced operations on 12 March 2010. The museum is housed in a two-story, approximately 1,500 square meter space within the Batman Culture Center building, featuring an independent entrance.

Batman Museum serves as the administrative center and artifact repository for rescue excavations carried out at mounds in Batman and Siirt provinces under the Ilısu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project.

Architectural Features

Batman Museum is a two-story building with a total enclosed area of approximately 1,500 square meters. The museum building has an independent entrance within the Batman Culture Center. Exhibition halls, administrative units, library, laboratory, and projection room are all located within the building. The Müzepark area in the museum garden is designed as an open-air historical reenactment space.

Batman Museum (Culture Portal)

Exhibitions and Collections

The museum has three main exhibition halls: the Paleolithic–Neolithic Hall, the Ilısu Hall, and the Hasankeyf Hall. Approximately 500 artifacts are displayed in these halls. Notable items in the collection include game pieces from the Başur Höyük excavations, standing stones from Gusir Höyük, bronze age grave offerings from Başur Höyük, and artifacts such as the deity Bes from Hasankeyf. The total number of registered artifacts in the museum is 2,211.

Batman Museum (Culture Portal)

Müzepark Project

The Müzepark established in the museum garden represents a first in Türkiye. Supported by the Dicle Development Agency, this open-air exhibition area features reconstructions of dwellings from Gusir and Gre Amer höyüks, burial traditions, game pieces from Başur Höyük, the Artuklu Gate of Hasankeyf, a Medieval settlement area, and reconstructions of village life from the recent past.

The area also includes archaeological excavation simulation zones for children, short film screenings, and educational activities.

Müzepark Project (Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye)

Conservation and Preservation Efforts

The museum houses a laboratory where conservation and restoration work on artifacts recovered from excavations is carried out. The museum also includes a projection room for screening documentary films related to the excavations.

Visit Information

Batman Museum is open to visitors six days a week (except Monday) from 08:00 to 17:00.