Hattusa: Discovering The Ancient Capital Of The Hittite Empire

Hattusa also Hattusha, Ḫattuša, Hattusas, was capital of Hittite Empire in late Bronze Age during two distinct periods. Ruins lie near modern Boğazkale Turkey originally Boğazköy within great loop of Kızılırmak River Hittite Marashantiya Greek Halys. Founded around 1650 BC Hattusha was capital of Hittite Empire and became focus of arts and architecture as capital of one of four leading powers of Bronze Age: Hittite, Egyptian, Babylonian and Assyrian.

From Sixth Millennium To Hattush

Earliest traces of settlement on site are from 6th millennium BC during Chalcolithic period. Toward end of 3rd millennium BC Hattian people established settlement on locations that had been occupied even earlier and referred to site as Hattush. In 19th and 18th centuries BC merchants from Assyria centered at Kanesh Nesa modern Kültepe established trading post there setting up own separate quarter of lower city. Forty mercantile documents written in Old Assyrian dialect of Akkadian found in early 2nd millennium BC karum. Type Settlement Periods Bronze Age Cultures Hittite Location Near Boğazkale Çorum Province Turkey Region Anatolia Built 6th millennium BC Abandoned c. 1180 BC Condition In ruins UNESCO World Heritage Site Official name Hattusha: the Hittite Capital Criteria Cultural i ii iii iv Reference 377 Inscription 1986 10th Session Area 268.46 ha 663.4 acres.

Carbonized layer apparent in excavations attests to burning and ruin of city around 1700 BC. Responsible party appears to have been King Anitta from Kussara who took credit for act and erected inscribed curse for good measure: Whoever after me becomes king resettles Hattusas let Stormgod of Sky strike him though in fact city was rebuilt afterward possibly by son of Anitta. In first half of 2nd millennium BC around year 1650 BC Hittite king Labarna moved capital from Neša to Hattusa and took name of Hattusili one/man from Hattusa. After Kaskians arrived to kingdom north they twice attacked city and under king Tudhaliya I Hittites moved capital north to Sapinuwa. Under Muwatalli II they moved south to Tarhuntassa but king assigned younger brother future Hattusili III as governor over Hattusa. In mid-13th century BC Hittite ruler Mursili III returned seat to Hattusa where capital remained until end of Hittite kingdom in 12th century BC.

A City Of 440 Acres On Rocky Cliffs

At its peak city covered 1.8 km2 440 acres and comprised inner and outer portion both surrounded by massive and still visible course of walls erected during reign of Suppiluliuma I c. 1344–1322 BC. Inner city covered area some 0.8 km2 200 acres and was occupied by citadel with large administrative buildings and temples. Royal residence acropolis built on high ridge now known as Büyükkale Large Fortress. City displayed over 6 km 3.7 mi of walls with inner and outer skins around 3 m thick and 2 m space between adding 8 m total thickness. To south lay outer city about 1 km2 250 acres with elaborate gateways decorated with reliefs showing warriors lions sphinxes. Four temples located here each set around porticoed courtyard together with secular buildings and residential structures. Outside walls are cemeteries most of which contain cremation burials. Modern estimates put population city around 10,000 in early period inner city housed third of that number. Dwelling houses built with timber and mud bricks vanished from site leaving only stone-built walls of temples and palaces.

City destroyed together with Hittite state itself around 1200 BC as part of Late Bronze Age collapse. Excavations suggest Hattusa gradually abandoned over period of several decades as Hittite empire disintegrated. Suggested regional drought occurred at that time. Signs of final destruction by fire noted but destruction probably occurred after city had already been abandoned by Hittite royal family elites state apparatus. Agricultural communities with material culture distinct from Hittites settled remains as early as 12th Century BC. Hittite State state of firsts in Anatolia history which became Empire after ensuring unity with state first established about 4000 years ago magnificent capital Hattusha built on rocky cliffs still preserving mystery which shed light on history of world civilization and human memory with works extracted as result of archaeological excavations. Located about 80 kilometers southwest Çorum, 150 kilometres east of Ankara 17 miles northwest Yozgat Boğazkale population 1356 2013 est.

Tablets, Sphinxes, And The First Peace Treaty

French archeologist Charles Texier brought attention to ruins after visit in 1834. Over following century sporadic exploration occurred involving different archaeologists. German Oriental Society and German Archaeological Institute began systematic excavations early 20th century which continue to today. Hattusa added to UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986. In 1833 Texier sent exploratory mission Turkey discovered monumental ruins near town Boğazköy made topographical measurements illustrations preliminary site plan subsequently visited European travelers explorers most notably German geographer Heinrich Barth 1858. Georges Perrot excavated 1861 nearby Yazılıkaya Perrot first suggest 1886 Boğazköy was Hittite capital Hattusa. 1882 German engineer Carl Humann completed full plan. Ernest Chantre opened trial trenches village then called Boğazköy 1893–94 cut short cholera outbreak discovered fragments clay tablets inscribed cuneiform text both Akkadian language and what later determined be Hittite language. Between 1901-1905 Waldemar Belck visited several times finding number tablets. In 1905 Hugo Winckler conducted soundings on behalf German Oriental Society finding 35 more fragments at royal fortress Büyükkale began actual excavations 1906 focusing mainly royal fortress area thousands tablets recovered most then unreadable Hittite language few Akkadian texts firmly identified site as Hattusa. Work resumed 1931 under Kurt Bittel establishing stratigraphy major focus German Archaeological Institute lasted 9 seasons until suspended WWII 1939 resumed 1952 Bittel Peter Neve replacing field director 1963 director 1978 continuing until 1993 focus Upper City. In 1994 Jürgen Seeher assumed control leading until 2005 focus Büyükkaya non-monumental areas economic residential spaces. From 2006 Andreas Schachner restoration preparation tourist operations.

One of most important discoveries has been cuneiform royal archives clay tablets from Hittite Empire New Kingdom period known as Bogazköy Archive consisting official correspondence contracts legal codes procedures for cult ceremony oracular prophecies literature of ancient Near East. One particularly important tablet currently display Istanbul Archaeology Museum details terms of peace settlement reached years after Battle of Kadesh between Hittites and Egyptians under Ramesses II in 1259 or 1258 BC. Copy display United Nations New York City as example of earliest known international peace treaties. Although 30,000 or so clay tablets recovered form main corpus Hittite literature archives have since appeared other centers Anatolia such as Tabigga Maşat Höyük and Sapinuwa Ortaköy. By middle 2nd millennium scribal community grown up Hattusa based Syrian Mesopotamian Hurrian input usual range Akkadian Sumerian language texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Hattusa Located Today?

Near modern Boğazkale originally Boğazköy Çorum Province Turkey within great loop Kizilirmak River Hittite Marashantiya Greek Halys 17 miles 27 km northwest Yozgat 150 km east Ankara 80 km southwest Çorum 268.46 ha 663.4 acres UNESCO Hattusha Hittite Capital criteria i ii iii iv reference 377 inscription 1986 10th Session.

How Old Is Hattusa From 6th Millennium BC?

Earliest traces settlement 6th millennium BC Chalcolithic period end 3rd millennium BC Hattian people settlement referred Hattush 19th-18th centuries BC merchants Assyria centered Kanesh Nesa modern Kültepe trading post separate quarter lower city built 6th millennium BC abandoned c 1180 BC condition in ruins 8000-year history preserves Hatti Hittite civilizations traces sixth millennium BC.

Who Built And Burned Early Hattusa Before Hittites?

Carbonized layer burning ruin around 1700 BC King Anitta from Kussara took credit erected inscribed curse Whoever after me becomes king resettles Hattusas let Stormgod of Sky strike him though rebuilt possibly son Anitta. First half 2nd millennium BC around 1650 BC Hittite king Labarna moved capital from Nesa to Hattusa took name Hattusili one/man from Hattusa. After Kaskians arrived north twice attacked under Tudhaliya I moved capital north Sapinuwa under Muwatalli II moved south Tarhuntassa assigned younger brother future Hattusili III governor over Hattusa mid-13th century BC Mursili III returned seat to Hattusa until end kingdom 12th century BC.

How Large Was Hittite Capital At Its Peak?

At peak city covered 1.8 km2 440 acres inner and outer portion massive still visible walls erected reign Suppiluliuma I c 1344-1322 BC inner city 0.8 km2 200 acres citadel large administrative buildings temples royal residence acropolis high ridge Büyükkale Large Fortress over 6 km 3.7 mi walls inner outer skins 3 m thick 2 m space between adding 8 m total thickness south outer city about 1 km2 250 acres elaborate gateways reliefs warriors lions sphinxes four temples porticoed courtyard secular residential outside walls cemeteries cremation burials population around 10000 inner third dwelling houses timber mud bricks vanished only stone-built walls temples palaces.

What Ended Hattusa Around 1200 BC And What Remains?

Destroyed together with Hittite state around 1200 BC Late Bronze Age collapse gradually abandoned several decades disintegration suggested regional drought final destruction fire after abandoned royal family elites apparatus agricultural communities distinct material culture settled remains early 12th Century BC. One of four leading powers Bronze Age Hittite Egyptian Babylonian Assyrian reached height mid-14th century BCE Suppiluliuma I encompassed Asia Minor northern Levant Upper Mesopotamia. Archives 30000 clay tablets Bogazköy Archive official correspondence contracts legal codes cult ceremony oracular prophecies literature Treaty of Kadesh peace settlement after Battle of Kadesh Hittites Egyptians Ramesses II 1259 or 1258 BC copy UN New York earliest international peace treaties 40 Old Assyrian Akkadian mercantile documents karum early 2nd millennium BC scribal community Syrian Mesopotamian Hurrian 1986 large inscribed metal tablet 35x24 cm 5kg 2 chains 35 meters west Sphinx Gate treaty Tudhaliya IV Kurunta King Tarhuntassa Museum Anatolian Civilizations Ankara 1991 Mycenae bronze sword western slope Akkadian As Duthaliya shattered Assuwa-Country dedicated Storm-God 3400 sealed bullae clay lumps 2nd half 13th century BC Westbau land documents pair sphinxes southern gate taken restoration Germany 1917 returned 1924 Istanbul Archaeology Museum other Pergamon 1934 moved Boğazköy Museum reuniting pair excavations 120th year 55 scientists five countries Charles Texier 1834 brought attention Heinrich Barth 1858 Georges Perrot 1861 Yazilikaya first suggest 1886 Carl Humann 1882 full plan Ernest Chantre 1893-94 cholera fragments Akkadian Hittite Waldemar Belck 1901-1905 Hugo Winckler 1905 1906 Büyükkale thousands tablets Akkadian identified Hattusa KBo KUB Kurt Bittel 1931 stratigraphy German Oriental Society German Archaeological Institute WWII 1939 resumed 1952 Bittel Peter Neve 1963 director 1978 1993 Upper City Jürgen Seeher 1994-2005 Büyükkaya Andreas Schachner 2006 restoration.

Hattusa endures because stone outlasted timber. Mud brick vanished, timber vanished, 10,000 inhabitants vanished after drought and collapse around 1200 BC, yet 6 km of walls 8 m thick and Lion Gate and Yazılıkaya twelve gods remained on rocky cliffs above Boğazkale. Thirty thousand tablets taught world that capital is not size but record — treaty 1259 or 1258 BC still on display in New York as earliest peace shows empire remembered not for conquest but for agreement written in clay.