The construction of Archaeology - Ethnography Museum in the Fair area in Samsun began in 1976 and the museum was opened to visit on 1981.
The museum consists of a central hall and two other symmetrical halls. The mosaic being exhibited in the central hall was made in times of Alexander Severus (AC 222 - 235), the Rome Emperor and was restored in Byzantine Times at the end of AC 5th century. There are various mythological scenes on mosaic base made symmetrically. There is a scene in the middle related to the Troia war including Akhilleus and Thetis; there are some portraits reflecting the seasons on the panels located on each four corner of this scene; and Nereids and sea creatures are described in the rectangular panels among the seasons. Other than these figured scenes, there is a scene on a rectangular panel describing a sacrifice.

The Amisos treasury, which was found during digs carried out by the Museum Directorate in a grave of Amisos City, is also being exhibited in the central hall. The jewelry (crown, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, buttons, cloth ornaments, rings, etc.) which belong to a man, a woman and a female child are the most interesting works of the museum. These works that belong to the Hellenistic Period reflect the art and workmanship of those times.

The coins of Classical, Hellenistic, Rome, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and Republic periods are also being exhibited in this hall.

The works of Calcolithic, First Bronze Age, Hittite, Hellenistic and Rome periods found in Samsun and its environs are being exhibited chronologically in the hall located at right side of the central hall. The bronze, bone, stone and cooked soil works of Calcolithic, First Bronze and Hittite ages, which are found in archaeological digs carried out by İstanbul University in İkiztepe Tumulus of İkiztepe Village in Bafra, carry a specific importance. Bronze lance tip embossed at both sides is one of the samples that show high levels of İkiztepe people in metal art. The skulls, which had operations that belong to the First Bronze Age and found in İkiztepe Tumulus, constitute an interesting part of the museum. The naked athlete statue (AC 1st century copy of the original specific to BC 5th century) being exhibited in this hall is one of the most popular works of the museum.

Among the works being exhibited in the other hall, there are ethnographic works transferred to the museum from Samsun, velvets, napkins, sleeved short jackets, money and clock bags, hand script Korans, ornaments, weapons, kitchen materials, carpets, matting, etc.

The works of Classical, Rome, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited in the garden of the museum. The pithos, tombs, steles, milestones, various architectural works and embossments are the most popular works, which draw attention of the visitors.

Tel : (0362) 435 03 58  Fax : (0362) 431 68 28

The museum is open everyday except Mondays from 08.30-12.00 am to 13.00-17.00 pm.