First archaeological evidence of the Kaskas, the Hittites’ fierce enemies, discovered
The Kaskas, known as the relentless enemies of the Hittites who established the first central state in Anatolia, have long remained shrouded in mystery. Residing in the Black Sea region, these tribes continuously launched raids into Hittite territory, becoming a persistent thorn in their side. Until now, archaeological findings related to the Kaskas had not
The 3,300-year-old Hittite Dam has been added to the World Heritage Irrigation Structures List
The Gölpınar Hittite Dam, built by the Hittites, one of the ancient civilizations of Anatolia and considered one of the oldest irrigation systems in the world, has been added to the World Heritage Irrigation Structures List by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). The World Heritage Irrigation Structures List is organized by the
The 2,800-year-old Hittite period Andaval relief discovered at the foundation of a church
The Andaval Relief is an important historical artifact located near the village of Aktaş in Niğde Province, in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. It was first discovered in 1890 by W. M. Ramsey in the floor of a church approximately 9 km northeast of Niğde. The stele piece has a circular shape with a
27 cuneiform tablets providing information about the sacred Hittite city of Nerik have been discovered at Oymaağaç Mound
27 cuneiform tablets providing information about Nerik, the sacred city dedicated to the Hittites’ chief god Tešup, have been discovered at Oymaağaç Mound. Oymaağaç Mound is located in the Vezirköprü district of Samsun today. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yılmaz, a faculty member in the Department of Archaeology at Ondokuz Mayıs University and the Deputy
More than 50 seals belonging to members of the royal family found in the Hittite city of Šamuḫa
More than 50 seal impressions belonging to members of the royal family, including princes, scribes and local temple lords, have been unearthed in the Hittite city of Šamuḫa, now known as the village of Kayalipinar, about 40 kilometers west of Sivas province in Türkiye. Šamuḫa was one of the most important centers of the Hittite
3500-year-old Hittite mudbrick structures at Porsuk-Zeyve Höyük emerged stronger from the fires
The Hittite mudbrick structures at Porsuk-Zeyve Höyük, which was an important settlement in the Bronze Age due to its location on the road connecting Central Anatolia to the Mediterranean, have survived to the present day, strengthened by fires thought to have started in the 15th and 16th centuries BC. Porsuk-Zeyve Höyük is located near the
Excavations started at Oylum Höyük, one of the largest mounds in the Middle East
The 2024 excavation season has begun at Oylum Höyük (Oylum Mound), one of the largest mounds in the Middle East, located in Kilis province in southeastern Türkiye. The mound is 460 meters long and 370 meters wide, consisting of two elevations, one 22 meters and the other 37 meters, with a dominant position over the
Surprising discovery in the ‘holy water’ of the Hittites
Ongoing archaeological excavations in the sacred Hittite city of Nerik (today’s Oymaağaç Mound) are revealing surprising discoveries. With a 3500-year history, Nerik, which is considered a sacred city by the Hittites, is located 7 kilometers northwest of Vezirköprü district of Samsun. Nerik was founded by the Hattis and after the fall of the Hittite empire,
Using 3,500-year-old tablets, bread from the Hittite, Sumerian and Roman periods was baked
Bread is an indispensable food source in every period of history. In Anatolia, home to the transition to settled life, bread is considered both a foodstuff and a sacred food offered to the gods. The Hittites are a Bronze Age civilization that stands out with its bread making and diversity. Hundreds of tablets unearthed in
Excavations have started at the Kültepe ruins where the oldest written documents in Anatolia were found
The 76th year of excavations at Kültepe, an important karum in Anatolia during the Assyrian trade colonies, has begun. Kültepe is about 24 km from Kayseri city center. It functioned as an important trade center of the Assyrians and Hittites from 2000 BC to 1200 BC. The most important feature of Kültepe is that the