Archaeology and Ethnography Museum located in Samsun city center Fair Ground, was opened at 19 May 1981. Historical monuments founded in excavations by Turkish History Association, sent to Kastamonu Museum because of there was no museum for display in Samsun in that times. In terms of the importance of Samsun in national history, opening a museum with name “ Ataturk and 19 May Museum” was offered to Culture and Tourism Ministry by governor Turgut Baskaya at 1956. At the same time some historical monuments founded in an excavation and gathered from region, protected under Samsun Men Art Instıtute.  The museum was like storage at first, at 1 March 1960 works begun. Subsequently, Governor Enver Saatçigil at 1967, addressed the idea of museum again and the 19 May Art Gallery in Fair Ground changed to “Ataturk Museum”. After that, near to Ataturk Museum in Fair ground, the construction began for Archaeology and Ethnography Museum at 1976, just after 6 years it was opened for visitors. In the museum,archaeological and ethnographic artifacts on display which are gathered from Samsun and region.

In archaeological section, bronze, terracotta, bone artifacts are displayed from Early bronze Age, Hittite, Hellenistic and Roman periods. These artifacts include bronze athlete statue, Old Bronze Age operated skulls, Ancient Amisos City artifacts, Amisos Mosaic of Roman Emperor Alaxender Severus times, treasures from Amisos tombs, Hellenistic age jewelers.

Most important section of the museum, artifacts found in Amisos Tomb are from BC 400 -300 years. In this section, gold crown, earrings, bracelets has remarkably beauty. In addition, Coins from Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods in museum. Also moneys from Republic period are on display. At Museum Ethnography Section, traditional handicrafts of Samsun such as bindal, napkins, bolero, hours sacs, manuscripts, Korans can be found. Traditional cutters and firearms are organized in another section. 

Tel: 03624350358

Opening hours 8 am-5 pm Tue-Sun