Istanbul Archaeology Museum was founded at the end of the 19th century. It houses a great collection of Greek, Roman, Byzantine artifacts. Some of the highlights of the museum are the Alexander Sarcophagus, Sarcophagus of Mourning Women, Lycian Sarcophagus and a beautiful 1st century statue of Ephebos of Tralles.

The museum also houses "The Gezer Calendar" the oldest Hebrew inscription known to experts which was discovered near Jerusalem. It was written on a tablet of limestone and is believed to be an agricultural calendar .