Elazığ Archeology and Ethnography Museum, which will carry the thousands of years of civilization accumulation of Elazığ and Anatolia into the future, was put into service with a ceremony.
Elazığ Governor Numan Hatipoğlu and Elazığ Mayor Şahin Şerifoğulları also took part in the opening program attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Ersoy said that they were happy to present to the service of the nation a very valuable work worthy of the history, culture and civilization heritage in Elazığ, which has an exceptional place in the ancient memory of Anatolia.
Stating that Elazığ Archeology and Ethnography Museum will be an important cultural treasure that carries the thousands of years of civilization accumulation of the city and Anatolia to the future, Ersoy stated that the museum will undertake an important task in terms of preserving the historical and cultural heritage, transferring it to future generations and explaining it to visitors in the strongest way.
THE PAST OF MUSEUM IN ELAZIĞ EXTENDS TO 1965
Stating that the institutional history of museology in Elazığ dates back to 1965, Minister Ersoy said that the first museum was established by Ferhat Memişoğlu in the historical Alacalı Mescit in Harput.
Stating that the museum developed with the addition of many cultural assets unearthed during the Keban Dam Rescue Excavations in the 1970s to the collection and was later moved to the new service building, Ersoy noted that this building, which served from 1982 to 2016, was heavily damaged in the terrorist attack against the Elazığ Police Department in 2016 and was closed to visitor entrances.
Ersoy stated that, taking into account the earthquakes in the region, they decided to reopen the museum in a new, safe place that suits the cultural identity of the city, and said that following the negotiations with the Ministry of National Defense, the building, which was built in 1885 as the Civil High School and Sultaniye School and was later used for different functions, was transferred to the Ministry.
THE NEW MUSEUM WAS DESIGNED WITH A MODERN MUSEUM CONCEPTION
Stating that they designed the new museum according to the modern museum approach, Minister Ersoy stated that they aim to enable visitors to follow the cultural history of Elazığ with a chronological and holistic understanding, with its archaeology, ethnography and coin departments, as well as contemporary exhibition techniques.
Explaining that a total of 934 archaeological artifacts are exhibited in 6 halls and 51 showcases in the Archeology department, Ersoy said that from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, from the Bronze Age to the Urartu and Iron Age; He said that a wide historical section extending from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods was presented to the visitors.
482 ETHNOGRAPHICAL ARTWORKS, 522 COINS
Ersoy stated that in the Ethnography section, 482 works that have survived from the Late Ottoman and Republican periods are exhibited in 23 showcases; He stated that the collection, which ranges from copper to silver, wood to brass, traditional weapons to daily use items, manuscripts to caftans and robes, reveals the daily life, aesthetic understanding and cultural accumulation of the Elazığ people.
Explaining that there are a total of 522 coins in 5 showcases in the coin section, Ersoy said that from the Greek and Roman periods to the Eastern Roman and Sasanian world; He stated that the collection, which extends from the Umayyads to the Abbasids, from the Anatolian Seljuks to the Artuqid, Ayyubid, Ilkhanid, Safavid and Ottoman periods, reveals that the region has been an important political, economic and cultural intersection point throughout history.
Minister Ersoy explained the scope of the museum with the following words:
“Thus, a total of approximately 2 thousand works in our museum tell the thousands-year-old story of Elazığ and Anatolia to our visitors.”
SPECIAL SECTION FOR ÇAYDAÇIRA
Stating that living cultural values are also included in the museum, Ersoy said that Çaydaçıra, one of the most powerful cultural symbols that comes to mind when Elazığ is mentioned, is conveyed to the visitors in a special section with its traditional clothes, words, visuals and cultural context.
Emphasizing that Turkey is experiencing a very strong transformation in the field of museums, Minister Ersoy stated that, while new museums are being built, historical buildings are being restored and given museum functions.
Ersoy, museums are no longer just places where works are displayed in showcases; He said that they consider them as centers of scientific research, education, culture, art and social gathering.
He noted that they have implemented a museum approach that meets world standards in every field, from contemporary display techniques to digital applications, from conservation and restoration works to visitor experience, and is exemplary in many areas throughout Turkey.
NEW IMPLEMENTATION FOR ELAZIĞ'S CULTURAL TOURISM
Stating that he believes that the Elazığ Archeology and Ethnography Museum will enable visitors of all ages, especially children and young people, to get to know their own history and culture more closely, Ersoy said that the museum will also give a new impetus to the city's cultural tourism.
Minister Ersoy continued as follows:
“This precious place will also give a new impetus to the cultural tourism of our city and will make significant contributions to introducing the rich cultural heritage of Elazığ, especially Harput, to wider audiences.”
Minister Ersoy thanked his colleagues and the Ministry of National Defense, Elazığ Governorship, Elazığ Municipality and relevant institutions and organizations who contributed to bringing the museum to Elazığ, and wished the Elazığ Archeology and Ethnography Museum to be beneficial to the country and the cultural world.
FATIH MOSQUE WAS OPENED IN HARPUT IÇ KALE
After the opening of the museum, Minister Ersoy's Elazığ program continued with the Harput Citadel inspections. Ersoy also opened the Harput Inner Castle Fetih Mosque here.
Minister Ersoy then visited AK Party Elazığ Provincial Directorate and Elazığ Governorship and attended the provincial evaluation - tourism meeting.
