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The Golden Age of Archaeology exhibition at the Presidential Nation's Library in Ankara brings together 570 artifacts from across Türkiye’s ancient sites. Of these, 485 are being shown to the public for the very first time. At the heart of the exhibition stands a striking bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, which was returned to Türkiye after 65 years abroad.
The exhibition, titled "Birth of a Vision: Golden Age of Archaeology," is part of the "Heritage for the Future" initiative, launched in 2023 by Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It highlights the country’s recent efforts in excavation, heritage conservation, and international restitution of smuggled cultural property.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the International Archaeology Symposium in Ankara, said, "Türkiye leads the world in archaeological discoveries, both on land and underwater," and added that "since 2002, we have secured return of 13,291 historical artifacts to their homeland (Türkiye)."
Among the returned artifacts are five sculpted heads accompanying the Marcus Aurelius statue, brought back from institutions in the United States and Denmark.
Spanning thousands of years of history, the exhibition includes artifacts from 90 excavation sites across Türkiye. Highlights range from Neolithic vessels found at Karahantepe—often described as a discovery of the century—to a well-preserved Phrygian pottery vessel from the early Iron Age. The vessel’s intact cloth covering has surprised experts due to its rare state of preservation.
Artifacts from the Urartian kingdom, such as an intricately designed helmet, stand beside a complete Eastern Roman iron body armor. The exhibition also displays items from later periods, including a rare Ottoman coin attributed to Sultan Murad I, which notably lacks a father’s name—an unusual feature in Islamic numismatics.
One section, The Extraordinary Finds of a Recycling Workshop from Metropolis, features ancient bronze fragments, melted down in antiquity for reuse in everyday objects and coinage.
Another special section titled "No Escape" emphasizes Türkiye’s commitment to protecting cultural heritage from illegal trafficking. A newly uncovered statue of a woman, recovered by security forces before it could be smuggled out, is among the most compelling displays in this section.
The exhibition also explores Türkiye’s underwater heritage. Items salvaged from shipwrecks, including glass cargo and a copper ingot retrieved from a depth of nearly 40 meters by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy during a dive in Adrasan, are displayed as part of a dedicated maritime archaeology gallery.
Through this comprehensive showcase, the exhibition not only underlines Türkiye’s efforts to bring back smuggled artifacts but also reinforces the importance of preserving heritage at its source.
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