Within the scope of the Historical Field Research course offered by the Department of History at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Çarşamba, Ondokuz Mayıs University, a field trip to the Samsun Museum was organized. The visit was carried out under the supervision of the course instructor, Assist. Prof. Dr. Özkan Özer Keskin.
During the trip, which was designed as a field-based learning activity, students had the opportunity to examine archaeological and ethnographic artifacts on site. Particular attention was given to the finds from the ancient city of Amisos and the Amisos Treasure, discovered in a burial chamber located within the city. The gold jewelry belonging to a man, a woman, and a young girl found in the tomb chamber attracted special interest, as these Hellenistic-period artifacts reflect the artistic style and craftsmanship of the era.
Students also examined the coin collections on display, dating to the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman, and Republican periods. Artifacts from the Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Hittite, Hellenistic, and Roman periods unearthed in Samsun and its surrounding region further illustrated the long-term historical continuity of the area. Among the most notable objects in the museum are a double-sided relief bronze spearhead, surgically treated skulls from the Early Bronze Age, and a bronze statue of a nude athlete, a copy of an original dating to the 5th century BC.
The visit contributed to students’ ability to reinforce theoretical knowledge through direct engagement with material culture and to better understand the significance of museum collections in historical research. Such field trips aim to enhance students’ skills in evaluating historical sources within their original contexts.
