Traces of Anatolian Affiliated Cultures in Istanbul: the 1991 Exhibition at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Its Contemporary Relevance
İffet İzgi Billur, Alpay Pasinli
pp. 50 - 65
 
Title: Traces of Anatolian Affiliated Cultures in Istanbul: the 1991 Exhibition at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Its Contemporary Relevance
Authors: İffet İzgi Billur, Alpay Pasinli

Abstract: This study examines the 1991 "Anatolian Affiliated Cultures" exhibition at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, focusing on its presentation of artifacts from Cyprus, Syria, and Palestine. The exhibition, awarded the European Museum of the Year prize in 1993, serves as a seminal case study for analyzing museological practices in cultural heritage presentation. The paper employs a historical-analytical methodology, drawing on archival documents, exhibition designs, and contemporary sources to reconstruct the exhibition's conceptualization and execution. A significant portion of the analysis is dedicated to the Palmyra tomb chamber reconstruction and the Syria-Palestine collections, using their current imperiled state as a poignant reminder of the threats to global cultural heritage. The findings highlight the exhibition's role in fostering cultural awareness and its innovative interdisciplinary approach. The study concludes by discussing the implications of contemporary threats, such as conflict and destruction, and underscores the critical importance of preservation, presentation, and digitalization efforts for safeguarding humanity's shared cultural patrimony for future generations.

Keywords: Cultural Heritage; Museum Studies; Heritage Preservation; Palmyra; Istanbul Archaeological Museums; Digitalization.

Received: 30-09-2025     Accepted: 23-12-2025     Published: 27-12-2025

Citation: İzgi Billur, İ., Pasinli, A. (2025). Traces of Anatolian Affiliated Cultures in Istanbul: the 1991 Exhibition at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Its Contemporary Relevance. Cultural and Historical Heritage: Preservation, Presentation, Digitalization (KIN Journal), 11(2), ISSN 2367-8038, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 50–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55630/KINJ.2025.110204