New technology era begins for Kalehöyük Museum

KIRŞEHİR - Anatolia News Agency

Apart from the new technology applications, the Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum is also drawing crowds thanks to its architecture.

The Kalehöyük Museum will be presenting its artifacts with 3D visuals and three languages thanks to a new development at the facility, “The place where technology meets: Kaman Kalehöyük Archeology Museum.”

Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Kırşehir Gov. Özdemir Çakacak said the Ahiler Development Agency had supported the project, adding that it was expected to be one of the most important projects for the museum.

Noting that the Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum was not important merely for Kırşehir but also for all of Turkey, Çakacak said the project would include the very latest technology.

The project will provide tourists the chance to discover artifacts with 3D visuals and give them a chance to listen to information about artifacts with information booths.

“When the visitor places the barcode reader to the artifact label, they will have a chance to hear the information from the headphones,” he said, noting that the information would be presented in Turkish, English and Japanese.

The Kaman Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum has been a significant key for the city’s tourism, Çakacak said.
Excavation work has been carried out by the Japanese government in Kalehöyük since 1986, and the region is also home to a Japanese Garden and Archaeology Institute, he said.

Kırşehir Culture and Tourism Manger Mustafa Gökgül also gave information on the project, noting that 20 laptops and headphones had brought to the museum.

Clothes and models from the Hittite era

“As part of the project, experts have downloaded programs onto computers and with these new programs, we are able to see 3D visuals of the artifacts and hear the explanations in three different languages,” said Gökgül.
It is also possible to discover the history of the museum and its architecture.

The museum has also added information on the excavations in the Kalehöyük region with video and holographic images.

Thanks to a new system that will be launched, there will also be a virtual character that will give information on the works while dressed in Hittite attire.

The Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum, which was established with support from the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, saw 30,000 Turkish and foreign tourists, most of whom are Japanese, walk through its doors in 2012.

Unique architecture

The Kalehöyük Archaeology Museum in Kaman’s Çağırkan district is also drawing crowds thanks to its unique architecture and incredible selection of artwork, according to the governor. “Japanese tourists, who are very interested in history and culture, pay special attention to the museum, which was established by their own government,” he said.

“When we consider that nearly 90,000 tourists visit the Cappadocia region every year, we see that we have a very good potential for tourists,” the governor said. “Kaman is home to a museum where artworks unearthed by Japanese archaeologists during excavations are on display, as well as a Japanese garden. There is also the Archaeology Institute next to the museum. They are very important tourist attractions. Japanese tourists are especially very curious about both the museum and the institute. We want to draw the interest of Japanese people to the city center.”