Samarra was founded by Caliph Mutasım (833-842) in 836-839 at a location 125 km. north of Bagdad to curb problems between Turkish soldiers who were the Abbasid military forces and local people. It was the administrative centre for the Abbasids for some 47 years. In 892 it was abandoned after Bagdad again became the administrative centre for the Abbasids, and was buried under the sands. During 19 months of excavations after the Ottoman Empire gave permission in 1910 many objects were found and distributed over several museums, only a part ending up in the Türk ve Islam Eserleri museum.