The museum features 13 naturally preserved mummies, some dating back to the 10th-13th centuries.
Aşıklı Höyük, represented in the museum, provides evidence of the world's earliest brain surgery, with skulls showing signs of trepanation.
The collection includes rare Seljuk-era glassware and intricately carved wooden objects found in the Ulu Mosque of Aksaray.
Many artifacts were salvaged from the ancient city of Nora (modern-day Helvadere) located at the foot of Mount Hasan.
The museum building was relocated to its current site in the Hacılar Harmanı district to provide modern climate-controlled exhibition halls.
The Aksaray Museum is home to one of the most significant collections of naturally mummified remains in Türkiye, recovered primarily from the Ihlara Valley. It houses over 15,000 artifacts spanning from the Neolithic period through the Seljuk era. The museum’s collection highlights the region's historical role as a hub on the Silk Road. Displays include pottery, coins, jewelry, and weaponry salvaged from regional excavation sites. A specialized section showcases artifacts from the Aşıklı Höyük archaeological site, which represents one of the oldest settled farming communities in Anatolia. The exhibition design follows a chronological narrative through the geological and cultural layers of the Aksaray province.
The central atrium and the primary exhibit hall containing the large archaeological statues.
Focus your visit on the mummy exhibition, as it is the rarest part of the collection.
Read the placards regarding the Aşıklı Höyük site to understand the Neolithic transition in Central Anatolia.
Check for temporary exhibitions near the entrance, which often rotate based on ongoing local excavations.
Do not skip the section on local Neolithic history, as it provides the necessary context for understanding the later Byzantine and Seljuk artifacts.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season; usually open daily throughout the summer months.
Maintain a quiet tone and refrain from using flash photography, as it can damage sensitive textile and organic artifacts.
