House on the Slope in Hattusa

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 16:58

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to Hattusa: "The Secrets of Hattusa".

The steep slope of the hill that rises from the Grand Temple to the Royal Citadel (tr. Büyükkale) was part of the Hattusa Old Town. This quarter of the city was protected by fortifications, at least from the 16th century BCE. There were many buildings erected on this slope, on the artificial terraces, localized among the rocks protruding from the ground. The so-called House on the Slope (tr. Yamaç Evi) is one of the largest of these houses, but also the best-preserved buildings of this type. The building was probably an official building, possibly a scribe school.

October 2016 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 10:13

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for October 2016. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

Yerkapı in Hattusa

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 10/30/2016 - 15:18

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to Hattusa: "The Secrets of Hattusa".

The Turkish word Yerkapı, meaning the gate in the ground, is derived from the postern that leads out through the rampart below its highest point, below the Sphinx Gate. This name quite accurately captures the essence of this part of Hattusa fortifications. So far, archaeologists have discovered twelve similar tunnels under the fortifications of Hattusa. However, Yerkapı is the best-preserved structure of them all. It is also the only postern of Hattusa that is still accessible. This artificial embankment is 15 meters high, 250 meters long, and 80 meters wide at its base. Above it, there are city walls, with the access to the city provided by the Sphinx Gate. Yerkapı probably played a representative role, not the defensive one, although historians do not agree on this topic.

Gaziemir

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 10/28/2016 - 11:01

In addition to the most famous underground cities of Cappadocia, that is Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, and Özkonak, this region hides many more such underground settlements. Their exact number remains a mystery, as they are continually being discovered. Not long ago, in 2014, another huge one was accidentally found in the capital city of the Nevşehir Province. Gaziemir belongs to the category of less frequently visited underground cities. It is located near the route connecting the Ihlara Valley with Göreme, situated in the heart of Cappadocia.

The Grand Temple and the Lower City in Hattusa

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 10/26/2016 - 16:09

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to Hattusa: "The Secrets of Hattusa".

The part of Hattusa located at the foot of the Royal Citadel (tr. Büyükkale) is known as the Lower Town (tr. Aşağı Şehir). In this area, it is possible to see the ruins of the Grand Temple, the remains of an Assyrian trade colony, and the traces of residential houses and offices. This temple is the largest one in Hattusa, after the Temple of the Weather God in Kuşaklı, the second largest known in the Hittite Empire. The Grand Temple is currently marked with number 1 for guidance.