MUSEUMS OF VAN
VAN
MUSEUM
Gathering of archaeological and ethnographic works from
the region of Van began in 1932, when they were stored
in a room at the General Directorate of Education. In
1947 these works were moved to a barracks at a school.
The
museum was enriched with findings from the excavations
at Toprakkale, Cavustepe, Patnos, and Adilcevaz in the
Van region after 1959, and no existing building could
be found that was suitable for exhibiting the works. So
in 1968 construction of a new museum building was begun,
and completed in 1971. The works were exhibited and the
new museum opened to the public in 1972.
Van
Museum consists of two exhibition rooms, one downstairs
and one upstairs. Archaeological works are exhibited in
the ground floor room and include Urartu works uncovered
by excavations at Patnos, Toprakkale, Cavustepe and Giyimli.
On the top floor are various ethnographic works from the
region of Van, and findings from excavations at the old
city of Van and Ulucami. The garden of the museum contains
inscriptions from the Urartu period.
