Antalya Necropolis Museum

Located in the center of Antalya, the area traditionally known as the Old Eastern Garage and Public Market, parcels 1 and 2 of plot 12672, was the subject of an architectural project competition opened by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality in 2005. According to the results of the competition, held under the presidency of the Antalya Chamber of Architects, the project prepared by Erkal Architecture (Ozan Erkal – Emre Erkal) was selected as the winner and authorized for implementation. In this context, construction began in 2008, and during the excavation works, burial remains from the Ancient Period were uncovered. Following examinations by experts from the Antalya Museum Directorate, it was understood that the area was the Eastern Necropolis of the ancient city of Attaleia, leading to the initiation of rescue excavations by the Antalya Museum Directorate. The rescue excavations, which started in 2008, continued almost uninterrupted until the end of 2010, resulting in the excavation of 846 graves, 1,018 inventory items, tens of thousands of archaeological artifacts, and nearly 2,000 human skeletons over an area of 8,450 m². As a result of these developments, the necropolis area was registered as a First Degree Archaeological Site by the Antalya Regional Conservation Board on February 22, 2011, with decision number 4866. Additionally, in 2020, archaeological excavation works were conducted by the Antalya Museum Directorate, with support from our municipality's archaeologists, workers, and equipment, in an area of approximately 2,500 m² that had been reserved in previous excavations. During these excavations, 19 graves were uncovered, bringing the total number of graves to 865.

It has been understood that the majority of the uncovered graves are of the simple type and burials made directly into the natural bedrock. Additionally, other types of graves identified include dromos tombs, chamber tombs, sarcophagus-covered chamber tombs, and graves covered with baked clay plates, with a significant number of cremation vessels containing skeletons found. Recent studies based on grave finds and ancient archive documents indicate that the area was used as a cemetery (necropolis) continuously starting from the end of the 4th century BC.

The finds from the area, which provide important and rich data regarding the history of Antalya and its burial traditions, are particularly significant as they date from the late 4th century BC to the 3rd century BC. It is known that the city of Attaleia was established in the mid-2nd century BC by King II. Attalos Philadelphos of Pergamon. The findings from the excavations in the Eastern Necropolis of Attaleia further demonstrate that the region had been settled before the reign of King Attalos.

As a result of all these developments, the project to be carried out on the land owned by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality has been re-evaluated through collective work with the relevant institutions, academics, and experts, and it has been decided to protect this uniquely significant area of Antalya's history and archaeology under a museum structure and open it to visitors. The construction project to be implemented has been revised according to new special conditions by the project author, Erkal Architecture. The project named "Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Culture and Trade Center" was approved by the Antalya Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board on December 17, 2013, with decision number 2251.

According to the project approved by the Antalya Regional Conservation Board, the necropolis area will be covered with a roof system to protect it from external elements such as sun, rain, and wind, and this roof will be built on steel supporting columns that do not coincide with any graves. Additionally, there will be raised walking paths, elevated 1 to 2 meters above the necropolis ground, allowing visitors to comfortably observe the graves. The museum entrance floor will feature approximately 820 m² of three closed exhibition halls.

The museum works, carried out by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality's Department of Urban History and Promotion, are led by expert scientists in the field. The Antalya Necropolis Museum Scientific Board includes Prof. Dr. Havva Işık and Prof. Dr. Gül Işın from the Department of Archaeology at Akdeniz University, Ayla Sevim Erol from the Department of Anthropology at Ankara University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuray Gökalp Özdil from the Department of Ancient Languages and Cultures at Akdeniz University, and Mustafa Demirel, the Director of the Antalya Museum. The Antalya Necropolis Museum Scientific Board and project team work with the mission of "promoting the religious, ethnic, economic, and socio-cultural structure of ancient Antalya to both domestic and foreign visitors with a strong scientific infrastructure, thus contributing to transforming our city, which is the capital of tourism, into a city of museums." To achieve this mission, five main exhibition themes are being designed.

History of the Attaleia Eastern Necropolis and Excavation Works The history of the Attaleia Eastern Necropolis and excavations will be introduced to visitors through a chronological narrative. Photos, videos, and images taken during the excavations will constitute the exhibition materials. The founding story of Attaleia will be told in this section, along with the grave excavations conducted around the Attaleia Eastern Necropolis to date.

Ancient Period Burial Rituals and Beliefs about the Afterlife An ancient funeral house will be depicted, showing how the deceased was brought from the house to the necropolis area with a funeral procession. Subsequently, the stages of placing the deceased and gifts in the grave, closing the grave after burial, visiting the grave, and finally, the moment when archaeologists excavate that grave years later will be exhibited. This exhibition will recreate the necropolis area in the 1st or 2nd century AD. This display will take place both in the closed exhibition hall and in the original necropolis area. The original necropolis ground will depict the transportation of the deceased by a funeral cart to the necropolis area. The funeral cart will be showcased along the ancient road in the necropolis area and in the closed exhibition galleries. Additionally, in this theme, sculptures depicting women lamenting, frequently seen in Ancient Period artifacts, will be produced, and ancient funeral laments will be featured.

In the closed exhibition gallery, immediately following the depiction of burial rituals, the belief in the afterlife in the Ancient Period will be introduced to visitors using digital exhibition methods. This section will narrate the journey of the deceased's soul to Tartaros, according to Ancient Period beliefs, and the world of Tartaros along with its phenomenal characters.

Grave Types and Descriptions from the Necropolis Area The types of graves found in the necropolis area will be introduced to visitors. Digital screens set up along the walking paths will provide information about the typology of the graves being observed.

Artifacts Unearthed from the Necropolis Area and Their Importance in Urban History The largest gallery in the Antalya Necropolis Museum's closed exhibition area is planned to exhibit the archaeological artifacts unearthed from the necropolis area and the human skeletons uncovered during these excavations, which are currently preserved in the Antalya Museum. This exhibition will utilize display cases typical of classical archaeology museums. However, while exhibiting these artifacts, the reasons for their placement in the grave, along with the characteristics of burial rituals in the Ancient Period, will be highlighted.

Anthropological Studies on Skeletons The information and statistical data obtained from anthropological studies conducted on the skeletons unearthed during the excavations will form the basis for the exhibition scenarios. Additionally, based on the information obtained from anthropological studies, the demographic structure of ancient Antalya will be conveyed to visitors through digital designs in the gallery where archaeological artifacts are planned to be exhibited.

The Antalya Necropolis Museum Scientific Board, the Antalya Museum Directorate, and the project team have created the exhibition programs summarized above through their work since 2016, and the exhibition design project was prepared in 2018. Within the scope of these studies, archaeological artifacts unearthed from the Eastern Garage excavations have been classified under the management of the Antalya Museum Directorate. Additionally, the site area has been surveyed, and restoration and conservation applications for the area are nearing completion.

The Antalya Necropolis Museum, which is expected to be a new and exemplary project in terms of our country's museology, will be primarily focused on the exhibition of archaeological artifacts and human skeletons unearthed from this area. In this regard, the 1,018 inventory items, tens of thousands of archaeological artifacts unearthed from the Eastern Garage (Attaleia Eastern Necropolis) excavations, and the human skeletons preserved and studied at the Department of Anthropology at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University are deemed suitable for exhibition, preservation, and research at the Antalya Necropolis Museum in terms of contemporary museology and scientific practices. We kindly request that necessary steps be taken for cooperation and joint efforts regarding the exhibition and preservation of these artifacts at the Antalya Necropolis Museum, should it be deemed appropriate by our Ministry and the relevant General Directorate.