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The Boğazkale Archaeological Site, located near the modern village of Boğazkale in Çorum Province, Turkey, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, encompassing the ruins of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire, and the nearby rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, Hattusa was a major political, cultural, and religious center of the Hittite civilization, which dominated Anatolia and parts of the Near East during the 2nd millennium BCE. The site’s cuneiform tablet archives were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World List in 2001, underscoring its historical importance.
Hattusa, known to the Hittites as Ḫattuša, was the capital of the
Hittite Empire, a Bronze Age superpower that rivaled Egypt, Babylonia,
and Assyria from approximately 1600 to 1200 BCE. The Hittites, an
Indo-European people who migrated to Anatolia around 3000 BCE,
established a settlement at the site as early as the 6th millennium BCE,
with significant development by the Hatti people before the Hittites
rose to prominence. By the 19th century BCE, Assyrian merchants
established a trading post at Hattusa, linking it to a broader
Mesopotamian trade network.
The city reached its zenith during
the Hittite New Kingdom (c. 1400–1200 BCE) under rulers like
Šuppiluliuma I, who expanded Hittite influence across Anatolia and into
Syria. Hattusa was a fortified urban center with a peak population of
around 10,000, featuring palaces, temples, and sophisticated defensive
walls. The empire’s collapse around 1200 BCE, likely due to a
combination of internal strife, invasions, and the broader Bronze Age
collapse, led to the city’s abandonment. The site was rediscovered in
1834 by French archaeologist Charles Texier, marking the modern
recognition of the Hittite civilization, which had been largely
forgotten.
Excavations began in the early 20th century under
German archaeologists, including Hugo Winckler, Otto Puchstein, and Kurt
Bittel, and continue today under the direction of Prof. Dr. Andreas
Schachner of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). These efforts
have uncovered a wealth of artifacts, cuneiform tablets, and
architectural remains, providing insights into Hittite politics,
religion, and daily life.
Hattusa is situated in a rugged, fertile plain at an elevation of
about 3,100 feet (900 meters), between two converging streambeds that
form a natural gorge, giving Boğazkale its name (“Gorge Fortress”). The
city spans approximately 1 square kilometer, with a northern low-lying
area and a southern elevated ridge rising about 1,000 feet (300 meters)
over 1.25 miles (2 km). This strategic location, surrounded by hills and
valleys, provided natural defenses, which were enhanced by massive
fortifications.
The site is divided into:
Inner City: Located
on higher ground, housing palaces, temples, and administrative
buildings, including the royal citadel of Büyükkale.
Outer City:
Extending south, consisting of residential and storage areas, largely
constructed from timber and mud-brick, which have mostly vanished.
Yazılıkaya: A rock sanctuary 2.6 km east of Hattusa, known for its
carved reliefs.
Nearby, the Alacahöyük site, 36 km north, complements
Hattusa as another key Hittite center, while the Boğazkale Museum
displays local finds.
Hattusa’s remains showcase the Hittites’ advanced engineering, urban
planning, and artistic achievements. The city was surrounded by a
6-kilometer-long defensive wall, with key features from the New Kingdom
period (c. 1400–1200 BCE).
Fortifications
City Walls: The
walls, constructed from large stone blocks, were extended during the New
Kingdom to enclose southern hills, strengthening the city’s defenses.
They featured towers and gates, with a high earth rampart and moat in
the southern section.
Yerkapı (Ground Gate): A monumental structure
in the upper city, Yerkapı is a 40-meter-high, 250-meter-long artificial
rampart with a corbelled tunnel (postern) running beneath it. Likely
used for cultic ceremonies rather than defense, it was originally
decorated with four sphinxes, two of which are now in the Boğazkale
Museum.
Lion Gate: Located in the southwest, this gate features two
massive stone lions carved in relief, symbolizing protection and power.
King’s Gate: In the southeast, this gate once bore a relief of a warrior
god (now in Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilizations).
Sphinx Gate:
Positioned atop the fortified mound above Yerkapı, it was guarded by
sphinx statues, two of which were returned to Boğazkale in 2011 after
being displayed in Berlin and Istanbul.
Key Structures
Büyükkale (Great Citadel): The royal palace, located on a high ridge,
served as the administrative and residential center for Hittite kings.
Excavations here uncovered cuneiform archives, including diplomatic
correspondence and treaties.
Great Temple (Temple 1): The largest of
Hattusa’s 30+ temples, dedicated to the Storm God and Sun Goddess, it
featured a central courtyard and intricate stonework. Its artifacts,
including the twin sphinxes now in the Boğazkale Museum, highlight its
religious significance.
Storage Facilities: Hittite power was
symbolized by large granaries and storage pits, reflecting a
tribute-based economy. These structures demonstrate the city’s capacity
to sustain its population and military.
Yazılıkaya Sanctuary
Yazılıkaya, meaning “inscribed rock,” is an open-air rock sanctuary 2.6
km east of Hattusa, famous for its bas-relief carvings. It consists of
two natural rock chambers:
Chamber A: Features a procession of 63
deities, including male gods on the left (led by the Storm God) and
female gods on the right (led by the Sun Goddess of Arinna). The central
relief depicts the divine couple, symbolizing Hittite cosmology.
Chamber B: Smaller and possibly a funerary space, it contains reliefs of
the god Šarruma, a sword-wielding deity, and 12 underworld gods. A
notable relief shows King Tudḫaliya IV, suggesting royal rituals. The
sanctuary was likely used for New Year festivals and other religious
ceremonies, reflecting Hittite devotion to their pantheon.
Residential and Other Areas
The outer city’s timber and mud-brick
structures have largely disappeared, but foundation courses remain.
Cemeteries beyond the walls contained burials from various periods. The
city’s water supply was managed through cisterns and channels,
showcasing Hittite engineering.
Hattusa’s excavations have yielded thousands of artifacts, many
housed in the Boğazkale Museum, Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations, or Istanbul’s museums. Key finds include:
Cuneiform Tablets: Over 30,000 tablets, written in Hittite, Akkadian,
and other languages, document treaties (e.g., the Treaty of Kadesh with
Egypt), laws, rituals, and myths. Notable tablets include a fragment of
the Old Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, land donations, and an accession
ritual.
Drinking Bowls (Rhytons): Unique 3,600-year-old ceramic bowls
shaped like bulls, goats, and fists, discovered in 2015, are displayed
at the Boğazkale Museum. The fist-shaped bowl, made of rare gray
ceramic, is considered a “unique relic” due to its intact condition and
context.
Sculptures and Reliefs: Royal seals, beak-spouted vessels,
scale armor, a fine helmet, and sphinx statues reflect Hittite
craftsmanship.
Post-Hittite Artifacts: Phrygian pottery, Roman coins,
inscriptions, and Byzantine finds indicate continuous occupation.
The
cuneiform archives, included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World List,
provide unparalleled insights into Hittite diplomacy, religion, and
administration.
The Boğazkale Museum, renovated in 2012, is a key resource for
visitors. Located in the village, it houses artifacts from Hattusa,
including:
Twin sphinxes from the Great Temple and Sphinx Gate.
Fist-shaped rhytons and other ceramics.
Cuneiform tablets, including
the Gilgamesh fragment.
Information boards offering detailed
explanations of Hittite history and culture.
The museum’s English
signage and thoughtful curation make it one of Turkey’s best small
museums for understanding the Hittites. Admission costs approximately 70
TL (as of 2024).
Excavations at Hattusa, led by the DAI since 1931, involve
international teams from institutions like the University of Istanbul
and Naples’ Federico II University. Funded by the DAI, German Research
Foundation, and others, the work focuses on excavation, artifact
processing, and restoration. Recent discoveries include:
In 2022,
Dr. Bülent Genç found new evidence at Yerkapı, suggesting its cultic
role.
The 2015 discovery of the fist-shaped rhyton, found intact in a
1600 BCE ritual building, provided insights into Hittite cult practices.
The site continues to yield surprises, with ongoing efforts to preserve
and interpret its remains.
Hattusa is a testament to the Hittite Empire’s sophistication,
rivaling contemporary powers like Egypt. Its fortifications, temples,
and archives reflect a centralized state with advanced engineering,
literacy, and diplomacy. The Treaty of Kadesh (c. 1259 BCE), one of the
earliest recorded peace treaties, was negotiated by Hittite kings,
underscoring their global influence. Yazılıkaya’s reliefs offer a rare
glimpse into Hittite religion, blending Anatolian and Mesopotamian
traditions.
The site’s rediscovery revived interest in the
Hittites, previously known only through biblical references (e.g., Uriah
the Hittite). Its UNESCO status and ongoing excavations highlight its
importance to world archaeology, while the Boğazkale Museum makes its
heritage accessible to visitors.
Location: Boğazkale, Çorum Province, 87 km from Çorum, 200 km east of
Ankara.
Access: No public transport directly serves Boğazkale. From
Sungurlu (30 km northwest), taxis or occasional dolmuş (minibuses) are
available on weekdays. The nearest airport is Ankara’s Esenboğa, and the
closest bus hub is Sungurlu on the Ankara-Samsun route.
Hours: The
site and museum are open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM (hours may vary
seasonally).
Tickets: Museum entry is approximately 70 TL; the
archaeological site may require a separate fee.
Tours: Guided day
tours from Cappadocia or Ankara are available. Exploring Hattusa and
Yazılıkaya on foot is recommended, with the Hitit Yolu (Hittite Way)
walking path connecting key sites.
Tips: Wear sturdy shoes for uneven
terrain, bring water, and visit the museum first for context. Combine
with Alacahöyük or Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilizations for a
deeper Hittite experience.
Biblical Connections: The Hittites are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible
as allies of the Israelites, with Uriah the Hittite serving as a soldier
under King David.
Unique Artifact: The fist-shaped rhyton is one of
only two known examples, with the other (silver) smuggled abroad, making
the Boğazkale find critical for understanding Hittite rituals.
Engineering Feat: Yerkapı’s tunnel, built without mortar, remains
structurally sound after 3,500 years.