Music and musical instruments in ancient representational art

Today archeology has a multicultural and sophisticated relation with other disciplines. This masters thesis titled "Music and Musical İnstruments in Ancient Representational Art" has demonstrated a perfect study of not only the similarities and connections of certain musical instruments, musicans and bands, but also the significance of music in social activities and social groups, by analyzing the depictions found in archeological studies which have reached to the present day. İncluding a time frame starting from the early times before written history till the beginnings of Late Antique Era, this detailed study covers a wide range of interpretation and evaluation of several findings, such as ceramics, Stones, metal artcrafts, coins, mosaics, carved walls and decoration stuff. On such findings one can clearly see the images of music and musical instruments. All findings and items are part of collection of archeological discoveries on the lands of Anatolia, Meditterrenian, Egypt, Europe and Mesopotamia which is regarded as a turning paint history of human civilization. Data that is included in this study has been presented by using the techniques of preliminary research and careful observations in particular museums. Moreover, through in depth analysis and research, the historical background of music and the musical instruments on the archeological findings is presented in this study in order to reach a conclusion showing how music and musical instruments affect the interaction and development of cultures in history. İt is an important fact that the main tools of this detailed sutdy are the pieces of arts with the depictions of music and musical instruments. İn addition, several academic studies were analyzed, evaluated and used in this master's thesesis. Since this issue covers extremely wide geographical areas and ancient cultures in history, all depictions reflecting the concept of music and musical instruments have been great tools to spread music as a phenomenon to larger communities aimin to guide and teach them how to use and transfer these valuable archaic visuals and written documents to the next generations throught the history of civilization. The main purpase of this detailed study is to reveal a careful research and evaluation of such an issue which has never been studied with careful plan and research in Turkey. İt can also be seen that the previous studies carried out in Turkey lack archeological mindset. İn this study it is significant that the aim is the provide an further studies regarding archeological method and content. Furthermore, in some of the previous studies it can be seen that much information on music and musical instruments pointed out in archeological data was misinterpreted causing ambiguity and misconception. To prevent and avoid such drawbacks, this study also provides valvuable suggestions to be used in future studies in terms of accurate interpretation and presentation of art forms and archeological data.