Hatay Archaeology Museum

Hatay Archaeology Museum is an important cultural institution located in Hatay Türkiye, shedding light on the region’s thousands of years of history. The museum houses artifacts from various periods ranging from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages and is particularly renowned for its mosaic collection.

Hatay Archaeology Museum. (Republic of Türkiye Hatay Governorship)

Foundation and History

Archaeological excavations in Hatay began in 1932 and were conducted between 1933 and 1938 by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago in areas such as Cüdeyde Dehep Çatalhöyük and Tell Tainat in the Amik Plain. In 1936 excavations were carried out on behalf of the British Museum at the El-Mina site in Samandağ and between 1937 and 1948 at Tell Atçana Acçana Höyüğü. The mosaics uncovered as a result of Princeton University’s excavations between 1932 and 1939 form the core of the museum’s collection.

The first building of the Hatay Archaeology Museum was completed in 1939 and the museum opened to the public on 23 July 1948. However due to the growing collection and increasing visitor numbers the original building became inadequate and construction of a new museum building began in 2011. The new building was opened to service on 28 December 2014.

Architecture and Technical Facilities

The new museum building is situated on a site of 53500 square meters and features 32754 square meters of enclosed space and 10700 square meters of exhibition area. The museum has been enhanced with modern facilities including interactive panels digital screens and architectural reconstructions. Additionally architectural reconstructions spanning from the Prehistoric Age to the Roman and Byzantine periods further enrich the visitor experience.

Interior. (Republic of Türkiye Hatay Governorship)

Archaeological Excavations

The museum’s archaeological collection is based on finds from numerous excavations conducted in Hatay and its surroundings. Excavations carried out by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago the British Museum and Princeton University have yielded countless artifacts from sites such as Cüdeyde Dehep Tell Tainat Tell Acçana El-Mina and other mounds in the Amik Plain. Particularly Roman and Byzantine mosaics constitute a major portion of the museum’s core collection. Some of these mosaics are currently on display at the Hatay Archaeology Museum while others are held in museums and private collections abroad.

Yakto Mosaic. (Culture Portal)

Collections

The museum’s collection is presented chronologically under seven thematic headings:

• Prehistoric and Paleolithic Culture: Reconstruction of Üçağızlı Cave and finds from the mounds of the Amik Plain.
• Hellenistic and Roman Period: Artifacts reflecting the foundation of Antiocheia and daily life of the era.
• Byzantine Period: Artifacts shaped by the mosaic art and religious influences of this period.
• Necropolis Culture: Grave stelae sarcophagi and other burial-related finds.
• Artifacts from the Middle Ages and Islamic period.
• Current excavation and exhibition areas.
• General overview of Hatay archaeology.

Hatay Chronology. (Turkish Museums)

Mosaic Collection

The total surface area of the mosaics on display at the museum is 3250 square meters a feature that places the Hatay Archaeology Museum among the institutions with the largest mosaic collections in the world. Notable examples from this collection include the “Abandoned Ariadne Mosaic” the “Yakto Mosaic” the “Skeleton Mosaic” the “Seasons Mosaic” and “The Birth of Venus.”

In addition to the mosaic collection the museum also houses stone sculptures architectural elements inscriptions coins and everyday objects. Among the standout pieces are the statue of Suppiluliuma from the Late Hittite period discovered at Tell Tayinat the Antakya Sarcophagus and the Tyche statue. The archaeological material spanning from the Hellenistic period to the Islamic era documents the cultural traces of diverse civilizations in the geography of Hatay.

Floor Mosaic. (Culture Portal)

Highlight Artifacts

Each artifact in the museum reflects the cultural and artistic characteristics of its period. Some of the most notable pieces include:

Statue of King Suppiluliuma: A basalt statue weighing approximately 1.5 tons bearing inscriptions in the Luwian language from the Late Hittite Kingdom. It was discovered at Tell Tayinat Höyüğü.

Statue of Suppiluliuma. (Culture Portal)

Antakya Sarcophagus: This Roman-period sarcophagus is adorned with figures suggesting it belonged to a person of high status.

Statuette of the Goddess Ishtar: This artifact made of Lapis Lazuli stone dates to the Late Bronze Age and is one of the museum’s most unique pieces.

Tyche Statue: This figure representing the goddess of fortune of Antiocheia dates from the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Tyche Statue. (Culture Portal)

Aba and Meşlah Textiles

The ethnography section of the museum features a special collection of aba and meşlah textiles from the Hatay region. These textiles were worn as indicators of social status and also for protection against cold and heat. Five of the textiles recorded in the Hatay Archaeology Museum inventory are sırma aba and one is meşlah. The warp of these textiles is made of cotton the weft of wool and the ornamentation includes silver thread and silk. Motifs include the eye the drop the hair knot the wolf’s mouth stylized flowers and geometric patterns.

Visit Information

The museum is open daily throughout the year. During winter season (2 October – 14 April) it operates from 08:30 to 17:00 and during summer season (15 April – 1 October) from 08:30 to 19:00. The museum is located on Atatürk Street in Maşuklu Neighborhood Antakya District Hatay Province. Visitors may enter using a Müzekart and benefit from audio guide services.