Archaeology of Daily Life

“Archaeology of Daily Life”

6500 B.C.-1300 A.D.

The “Archaeology of Daily Life” exhibition invites its visitors to a colorful historical journey from the shores of the Golden Horn to Anatolia and surrounding civilizations, starting from October 21.

The exhibition is a continuation of the “Heritage of the Earth” exhibition; With a wink at the “Whispers of Extinct Languages” exhibition, it contains traces of the Anatolian culture that has developed and changed throughout history through the objects that shape our daily lives, along with works that show the development of language and writing, the most important means of communication in daily life.

Neolithic Period (9000-5500 BCE)

The Neolithic Period (New Stone Age), thought to have started across the Anatolia in 10000 BCE, is a period in which significant developments and changes have been experienced in human history. Humans no longer lived solely in caves but settled in houses with given layouts and engaged in farming and husbandry.

Marble idol of a mother goddess. Mother goddess idols are the reflections of fertility. In the ancient world, these figurines were the main emblems that symbolized a woman's fertility, social status, and sanctity, which may still be attributed to her. In general, breasts and hips are depicted exaggeratedly.

Chalcolithic Period (5500-3500 BCE)

The Chalcolithic Period (Copper-Stone Age) extends from 5500 to 3500 BCE. During this period, stone tools and metal tools produced by the casting technique were used simultaneously. Activities such as collecting, storing, and preserving the “surplus products” for the next year due to developments in farming have led to the emergence of new job sectors besides agricultural activities.

Marble idol consisting of a head and a body without arms and legs. The head is in the form of a horizontal eight with very big almond-shaped eyes and thick eyebrows.

The Bronze Age (3500-1200 BCE)

During the Bronze Age, which is thought to have occurred between 3500-1200 BCE, metal tool production became widespread. The spread of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, is considered the start of a new era in human history. In the Bronze Age, the population increased, and the city settlements surrounded by walls emerged across Anatolia.

Terracotta model of a temple. Single-storied at front side while it's two-storied at back side. There are figures at windows as busts. Also there are standing relief figures at doors.

Iron Age (1190-330 BCE)

According to the classification based on the usage of tools, the period between 1200 and 330 BCE is known as the Iron Age. During this period, the production of both bronze and iron tools was widespread. Developments such as discoveries in astronomy and mathematics, the calculation of solar eclipses, and the discovery of coins were experienced in this period.

Silver incense burner with a long, grooved stand. The upper part's handle is shaped as a standing bird.

The Greek Period in Anatolia (1500-30 BCE)

Between 1500 and 30 BCE is the Greek Influential Period in Anatolia. At the beginning of the Iron Age, small cities with political and economic freedom, called city-states, were established in Western Anatolia. During the Archaic Period, in 8-6. cent. BCE., the colonization process was experienced with the increase in population, the development of trade, and the search for productive hinterland.

A type of one-handled pottery has a narrow body used to contain especially olive-oil. This lekythos painted with a cavalry, who is wearing a hat and holding a spear, at the center. Above, a grill-shaped and a meander band.

Roman Period in Anatolia (30 BCE-476 AD)

The year 30 BCE is the beginning of a period in which the Romans settled in the center of power in the Mediterranean basin. During the Roman Empire Period, many technical developments were experienced, and the arts were shaped uniquely to Rome. Quality red slipped, different forms emerged, and metal vessels were used extensively. The glassblowing technique was discovered in this period, and then glass vessel-making accelerated.

It consists of a Hekate figure on an oval base of white marble, roughly flattened behind, holding torches in her short arms, dressed in long clothes, standing tall with a long neck and long braided hair reaching down to her shoulders, one on each side and one on each side. The one in the middle has a crescent moon above her head.

The Byzantine Period

The acceptance of Christianity in Constantinople is considered the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. After that time, images of Christianity, such as saints, crosses, and figures like birds and fishes, started to be seen on the artifacts. Although the Byzantines, who reached their widest lands in the 6th century AD, saw themselves as the continuation of the Roman Empire, modern historians have separated the Byzantine Civilization from the Roman Empire.

Incense burner with a hexagon body, pyramidal lid and hexagon stand with small rounded feet. Lid is ornated with floral patterns while each strip of the hexagon body is perforated as flowers.

The Seljuk Period

In the Seljuk State, which was active in history between the 9th and 13th centuries AD, glazed ceramics and metalwork techniques were developed, and works in which motifs belonging to different cultures can be seen were produced. Bird and hunter figures and geometric and vegetal shapes were widely used in Seljuk ceramics. Seljuks also practiced the arts of plaster, glass, miniature, metal, ceramics, and tile art.

It is a bust-shaped figurine made of limestone with a flat bottom, depicted from the hips up, dressed, holding the sheath of the dagger at his waist with his left hand and the hilt with his right hand, with armbands on his arms, a round band depicted around his neck, almond eyes, regular nose and lips, round facial features, and a headdress with a flat top.