National Museum of Turkmenistan

The national museum in Ashgabat, opened on 12 November 1998, counts some 500,000 items and holds the material that makes the country's archaeology significant: the carved ivory rhytons from Parthian Nisa, the finds from Gonur Depe including the seals and the jewellery of the Bronze Age Margiana culture, and the ceramics and glass of Merv. The building sits below the Kopetdag range at the southern edge of the city. Ethnographic and natural history sections occupy the upper floors.

The main sights

• The Nisa rhytons - carved ivory drinking horns from the Parthian citadel.
• The Gonur Depe finds - seals and jewellery from the Bronze Age Margiana culture.
• The Merv material - ceramics and glass from the Silk Road city.
• The ethnographic floors - Turkmen dress, jewellery and household objects.

When to go

April to May and September to October avoid the summer heat. The museum closes on some days each week. Two to three hours covers it.

Practical notes

Photography is restricted. Labelling is thin and mostly not in English. Guides are usually required to be arranged in advance.

Nearby

Nisa is west of the city, and the Carpet Museum is in the centre.

Key facts