Actually, it would be impossible to separate archaeology in Turkey from Atat rk. According to Atat rk, to be the master of one's land requires full knowledge of it. For this purpose the links in the chain of civilizations which have come down to our day from ancient times must be studied in conjunction with one another. Since Atat rk, this clear goal has constituted the source for the study of ancient Anatolian civilizations. Apart from the museums of Istanbul, Izmir had the only depot for artifacts until the early twentieth century.
Today there are museums exhibiting their riches in all corners of the country.
This is a development which distinguishes the republican era from preceding ages, and symbolizes it. For years now, systematic excavations have been carried out, ancient cities have been brought to light, archives have been discovered, large centers have been restored and some sites have been turned into open-air museums. Had Atat rk's wishes and initiatives not been realized and continued, it would have been impossible even to mention the activities I have listed. Actually we would have been branded as generations unable to study our land's past history in its entirety. Although strove to root the development of museums and archaeology firmly in the soil of education, he nevertheless did not leave the love of antiquities and the appreciation of fine arts solely in the hands of the universities.