 The decorative wooden objects found in excavations in Central Asia show that the Turkish art of woodcarving dates back to the distant past.

 As in other branches of art, animal motifs with legendary and religious significance were frequently used in the decoration of wooden objects.

 Doors and window shutters, pulpits of mosques, Koran stands and lecterns display highly advanced woodcarving.

 The bulk of extant wooden objects from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods can be seen museums in Ankara and İstanbul.