The bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius, which was repatriated from the United States to Türkiye on July 19, 2025, has been presented to the public for the first time in an exhibition held at the Library within the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The statue is among 570 archaeological artefacts showcased as part of the “Heritage for the Future” project, initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Notably, 485 of these artefacts are being exhibited for the first time today.
The archaeological exhibition offers visitors a journey through 12,000 years of history. The oldest artefact on display is a Neolithic-era bowl unearthed during excavations at Karahan Tepe, near the Syrian border. Scholars have described this find as the "archaeological discovery of the century."
The exhibition also features a 3,500-year-old stone tablet discovered in Hatay, bearing a bilingual inscription dedicated to the sky god, as well as 1,000-year-old perfume bottles unearthed in Antalya.
At the entrance of the exhibition, visitors are greeted by an amulet made by a young girl praying for her mother’s recovery. The exhibition also includes a fully intact pot from the Phrygian period (8th century BC), the armour of a warrior from the Eastern Roman Empire, and bronze statue fragments dating back to Antiquity.
A special section of the exhibition is dedicated to underwater archaeological artefacts recovered through dives conducted at depths of up to 40 metres.
Prior to the opening of the exhibition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the participants of the International Archaeology Symposium held simultaneously in Ankara. The event brought together 250 scholars from 29 countries and Türkiye, including the heads of all ongoing archaeological excavations in the country.
President Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s growing prominence in the field of archaeology, noting that 800 active field research projects are currently underway.
“In the past, the excavation season was limited to 90 days, but due to opening and closing procedures, actual work time would shrink to 40–50 days. Today, excavations continue year-round, and our researchers work continuously as long as weather conditions permit,” Erdoğan stated.
Erdoğan also cited major restoration efforts such as those carried out at the Galata Tower, Maiden’s Tower, and Hagia Sophia Mosque as examples.
It was also announced during the event that 23 artefacts illegally taken abroad have been returned to Türkiye since the beginning of 2025, while the number of repatriated items throughout 2024 reached 1,149.