Ministry Investigates Historical Seals, Showcases at Ankara Exhibition
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, through the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, has concluded an extensive five-year study on 884 seals within its inventory, documenting their historical significance. These seals, which legally validated documents and symbolized state discipline and authority throughout history, are now being displayed in Ankara’s Server Efendi Exhibition Hall.
Minister Mehmet Özhaseki, in a written statement, provided details on the findings. “Our 884 seals, which have witnessed the annals of history and are part of the inventory of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, are now exhibited at the Server Efendi Exhibition Hall. We meticulously examined these seals over five years and determined their place in the literature,” stated Özhaseki.
The General Directorate, protecting citizens’ property and title deeds for nearly two centuries, has now clarified the historical context of its sealed artifacts. Minister Özhaseki reflected on the study’s results in his statement, “These seals represent state discipline and official will, legally authenticating documents. They are now on display at Server Efendi Exhibition Hall.”
Seals from the Ottoman Era showcasing traditional artistic craftsmanship and calligraphic beauty have stood the test of time, according to Özhaseki. He highlighted a particular seal from the year 1300 (Hegira calendar) which was only operational when all four pieces—held by different officials—were combined, ensuring utmost document security.
“Each of our seals comes with its own story,” Özhaseki continued, emphasizing the longstanding tradition and institutional transitions reflected in the seals’ history. The exhibition also features registration logs, title deeds, cadastral records, mapping documents, and a handwritten Quran.
Özhaseki shared a video on his official social media account highlighting the seals’ study that included insights from Merih Sucu, Archive Preservation and Restoration Specialist. Sucu explained, “A seal is essential for a document’s legitimacy, representing the authority’s intent and conferring legal identity to the document. All our transactions have historically been conducted under state assurance.”
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