Alacahöyük is an important archaeological site and ancient settlement located in the Alaca district of Çorum province in Turkiye. Known as one of the significant religious and cultural centers of the Hittites, this ancient settlement possesses four cultural layers, whose history reaches back to the Late Chalcolithic Age, from five thousand five hundred to three thousand years before the Common Era.

Excavations carried out in the area uncovered royal tombs, monumental structures, and various archaeological artifacts belonging to the Hatti Civilization, which inhabited the region before the Hittites. In particular, the dynastic tombs from the Early Bronze Age, dated between two thousand five hundred and two thousand years before the Common Era, stand out due to the burial gifts made of gold, silver, and bronze.

Excavations that began in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-five are regarded among the notable scientific endeavors in Turkish archaeology. The Sphinx Gate, stone-paved streets, palace structures, and grain storages from the Hittite period all reflect the historical importance of Alacahöyük. A large portion of the artifacts obtained from these excavations are exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, the Alacahöyük Museum and the Çorum Museum.

^{Alacahöyük (Photograph: Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkiye, Development Gallery)}

History

Alacahöyük is among the oldest settlement areas in Central Anatolia. Traces of settlement in this region extend back to the Late Chalcolithic Age, from five thousand five hundred to three thousand years before the Common Era. Initially, small-scale settlements established on the main soil during this period evolved over time and eventually became a strong center in the Early Bronze Age, from two thousand five hundred to two thousand years before the Common Era. During this era, the region was under the influence of the Hatti culture, and Alacahöyük stood out as an important cult center compared to other nearby settlements. It is thought that a powerful ruling class existed in the area during the Early Bronze Age and that religious rituals held great significance.

When the Hittites emerged as a political power in Anatolia in the seventeenth century before the Common Era, Alacahöyük fell under the influence of this civilization as well. During the Hittite Empire period, Alacahöyük became a major administrative and religious center due to its proximity to the capital, Hattusa. Although the name Alacahöyük is not explicitly mentioned in Hittite texts, many researchers suggest that this site may have been either the sacred city of the Sun Goddess, Arinna, or one of the cult centers referred to as Zippalanda.

With the collapse of the Hittite Empire in the twelfth century before the Common Era, Alacahöyük weakened and came under the control of the Phrygians. The Phrygians partially maintained the Hittite heritage and left their own cultural imprints on the mound. Settlement continued during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods; however, Alacahöyük largely lost its former prominence. It is particularly noted that smaller-scale settlements existed on the mound during the Roman and Byzantine eras. In the Ottoman period, the region was utilized for agricultural activities.

Today, Alacahöyük is recognized as an archaeological site that illuminates the long-term settlement history of Anatolia through its layers belonging to different periods. The artifacts uncovered at the mound are significant in demonstrating how Anatolia progressed from prehistoric times onward.

Archaeological Excavations

The archaeological excavations in Alacahöyük are counted among the first national-scale endeavors of the Republic of Turkiye. The mound was discovered in the year one thousand eight hundred thirty-five by W. C. Hamilton, who introduced it to the scientific community, and in the year one thousand nine hundred seven, Theodor Makridi conducted short-term excavations on behalf of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. However, these early efforts did not achieve sufficient depth to reveal the overall structure of the mound.

Systematic excavations began in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-five under the auspices of the Turkish Historical Society, led by Remzi Oğuz Arık, and continued under the direction of Doctor Hamit Zübeyr Koşay beginning in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-six. When the excavations commenced, the village located on the upper part of the mound was relocated to another area in order to facilitate the work. Excavations conducted between the years one thousand nine hundred thirty-five and one thousand nine hundred thirty-nine uncovered royal tombs from the Early Bronze Age, yielding valuable objects made of gold, silver, bronze, and electrum. The covering of these tombs with ox heads and legs provides insight into the religious rituals of that period.

^{Sphinx Gate (Photograph: Salt Research)}

Following a pause in the excavations between the years one thousand nine hundred forty-nine and one thousand nine hundred sixty-two, work resumed in the year one thousand nine hundred sixty-three under the leadership of Hamit Zübeyr Koşay and Mahmut Akok. During this period, important architectural features from the Hittite era, such as the Sphinx Gate, the Temple-Palace Structure, and grain storehouses, were discovered. After a renewed halt in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-three, the excavations started again in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-six under the supervision of Professor Doctor Aykut Çınaroğlu, further detailing discoveries including city walls from the Hittite period, inner fortress structures, and newly identified grain storehouses.

As a result of these efforts, four main cultural layers were identified at Alacahöyük. The uppermost layer contains remains belonging to the Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, and Hellenistic periods; the second layer consists of monumental structures from the Hittite era; the third layer includes royal tombs and religious ritual objects dating to the Early Bronze Age; and the lowest layer contains traces of settlement from the Late Chalcolithic Age.

Architectural Structures and Finds

Alacahöyük contains architectural structures and finds from different periods. This mound, which has four main cultural layers extending from the Late Chalcolithic Age to the Byzantine Period, became a significant religious and administrative center during the Hittite era. The architectural elements and artifacts uncovered as a result of the excavations demonstrate how Alacahöyük underwent a developmental process throughout its history.

^{An engraving prepared by the Turkish Historical Society (Photograph: Salt Research)}

The most striking structures belong to the Hittite period. The Sphinx Gate is among the most important monumental buildings from this era. Built on a limestone foundation using blocks of andesite, the gate reaches a width of ten meters. On both sides of the gate are sphinx reliefs, and the interior and exterior surfaces of its towers rise embellished with orthostats. Upon passing through the gate, one encounters the Temple-Palace Structure, a large religious complex. It has been determined that this structure possessed extensive stone courtyards, ritual areas, and various storage rooms.

^{The Sphinx Gate (Photograph: Turkish Museums)}

Among the architectural features from the Hittite period are grain storehouses. With their stone-paved floors and tall walls, these storehouses stand out as some of the largest storage spaces seen in Hittite cities. In addition, water channels and secret passages (posterns) that formed the city’s infrastructure reflect the advanced nature of Hittite engineering.

The royal tombs dating to the Early Bronze Age are considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries of Alacahöyük. Each of the thirteen tombs, believed to belong to members of a ruling dynasty, was encircled by stone walls and covered with wooden beams. The heads and legs of sacrificial cattle were left on top of the tombs, and valuable items made of gold, silver, bronze, and electrum were found inside. While the Hittite Sun Disks offer clues about the religious beliefs of the era, bronze daggers, axes, and weapons reveal the military technology of that time.

Another significant feature uncovered during the excavations is the group of orthostat reliefs. Engraved on stone blocks, these reliefs depict Hittite religious ceremonies, battle scenes, and royal figures. Moreover, deer and bull statues that reflect the sophistication of Hittite art are among the objects used in royal rituals.

^{Reliefs near the Lion Gate (Photograph: Verity Cridland, flickr.com)}

Settlement on the mound continued during the Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. In the Phrygian era, a residential model characterized by small-scale housing areas and narrow streets is observed. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, most of the architectural structures on the mound consisted of aqueducts, cisterns, and small housing units.

Among the architectural remains from the Late Chalcolithic Age are stone-based structures. It is understood that mudbrick and wood were utilized during this period, and traces of pottery-making activities have been identified. Handmade ceramics and pottery kilns indicate the existence

Hittite Dam

The Hittite Dam in Alacahöyük is regarded as one of the oldest water management systems known in Anatolia. Believed to have been built by the Hittite King Tuthaliya the Fourth in the thirteenth century before the Common Era, this dam reflects the importance placed on water control and the level of engineering expertise of that period. Hittite texts mention that dams were constructed by the royal authority during a time of severe drought and famine. Within this context, the presence of two dams has been identified around Alacahöyük.

Known today as Gölpınar, the Hittite Dam is located approximately five hundred meters southwest of the Alacahöyük archaeological site. Built on a natural water source, the dam provided irrigation for the surrounding agricultural lands. Large stone blocks were used in the foundations of the structure, and channels were created to direct the flow of water. This system, which proves the advanced level of Hittite engineering, allowed for the utilization of water both for drinking and agricultural purposes.

During excavations conducted in Alacahöyük and its vicinity, various architectural elements related to water control were found near the dam. The sophisticated techniques the Hittites employed in water management were not limited to Alacahöyük but also appeared in Hattusa and other Hittite cities. The Hittite Dam is considered one of the earliest examples of large-scale water structures built under state sponsorship in Anatolia.