Sarissa Ancient City

One of the settlements shedding light on the prehistoric and early historical periods of Anatolia, the Ancient City of Sarissa is known as one of the cities of the Hittite Empire. Located today in the Kuşaklı region, approximately four kilometers east of Başören Village in the Altınyayla district of Sivas Province, the settlement occupies a strategic position atop a natural hill. Believed to have been founded in the 16th century BCE, the city holds a unique position within the Hittite settlement network in terms of both its architectural scale and its religious and political functions. The name Šarišša, recorded in Hittite written sources, has been definitively confirmed by seals and tablets unearthed during excavations. The temples, cuneiform archives, defensive systems, and examples of hydraulic engineering uncovered through archaeological work demonstrate that the city functioned as a multifaceted administrative, religious, and cultural center. In this context, Sarissa constitutes a significant archaeological site for understanding the provincial urban structure of Hittite civilization.

Hittite Dam (Subprefecture of Altınyayla, Republic of Türkiye)

Location and Geographic Position

Known in antiquity as Šarišša, this settlement, today referred to as Kuşaklı, lies approximately 60 kilometers southwest of the center of Sivas Province and four kilometers east of Başören Village in the Altınyayla district, near the Ak Kuzulu meadow. The city was built on a hill with an average elevation of 1,650 meters, situated south of the Maraššantiya River (Kızılırmak). This natural hill is characterized as a plateau surrounded by mountains extending approximately 2,000 meters around its perimeter. In Hittite texts, the region is described as the “Upper Country” and is located about 500 meters higher than the capital Hattuşa. The area experiences a harsh continental climate, with hot and dry summers and very cold winters marked by frost events.

Overhead View of the City (AA)

City Plan and Wall System

Sarissa has an oval layout measuring approximately 235 by 237 meters. The city is encircled by a wall system approximately 1.5 kilometers in length, constructed using the box-wall technique. This wall system consists of two parallel walls, reinforced by towers every 25 meters. The foundations of the walls are made of limestone, while the upper sections are built with wooden frameworks filled with sun-dried brick. Four main gates have been identified in the city; the northwestern and southeastern gates have been excavated.

Foundation, Historical Development, and Destruction

Šarišša was founded in the 16th century BCE during the Old Hittite Period. Evidence indicates that the city was destroyed by siege and fire in the early 14th century BCE, subsequently rebuilt, and continued to be used throughout the Hittite Empire period. It suffered a second destruction due to a catastrophic fire around 1200 BCE and was abandoned following the collapse of the Hittite state. During the Late Hittite Period, some abandoned structures were reused, but this occupation was short-lived. Additionally, a fortress was constructed on the Hittite acropolis in the 7th–6th centuries BCE.

Archaeological Excavations

Archaeological research at Sarissa began in 1992 with surface surveys, and excavation work commenced in 1993 under the leadership of Professor Dr. Andreas Müller-Karpe from the University of Marburg, Germany. These excavations continue to be conducted on behalf of the Sivas Museum Directorate. The team includes geophysicist H. Stümpel, tablet specialist G. Wilhelm, specialist on Structure E S. Arnhold, dam specialist A. Hüser, ceramic specialist D.P. Mielke, and researcher of the southeastern gate A. Schachner.

Images from Archaeological Excavations (Sivas Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Identification of the City’s Name and Written Documents

The identification of the settlement as Šarišša was confirmed through the decipherment of a hieroglyphic inscription on a pottery shard and the discovery of seal impressions bearing the phrase “king of Šarišša.” The city is mentioned numerous times in Hittite cuneiform texts. Of the 52 tablets recovered during excavations, many contain information on religious rituals, oracular texts, and festival celebrations. Some texts refer to festivals held at Mount Kupit. Seals found at the site indicate that the name of the local king was either Mazitima or Mimazati.

Cult and Religious Functions

Sarissa was an important center in Hittite religious life. In particular, Structure C (the Temple of the Storm God) and Temple I on the northern terrace reflect the sacred identity of the city. Written documents found in the temple structures indicate that kings regularly traveled here in spring to conduct ceremonial activities and performed rituals before the Huwaşi Stone. The fact that the Storm God of Sarissa was invoked in the Treaty of Kadesh demonstrates the city’s international religious significance.

City Plan (Sivas Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Architectural Structures

Structures A and B

Structures A and B, located south of the acropolis, were excavated between 1994 and 1996. Although religiously oriented tablets found in Structure A suggest a cultic function, its architectural features indicate it was likely not a temple but rather a priest’s residence. Structure B is a typical example of Old Anatolian domestic architecture, consisting of a narrow entrance leading to a central hall with side rooms.

Structure C (Temple of the Storm God)

Structure C, covering an area of 4,660 square meters, is the largest Hittite temple discovered to date. It features two monumental entrances, one in the northeast and the other in the southwest. The cult chamber, accessible through an inner courtyard, measures 210 square meters and contains two underground cult rooms supported by 16 columns. The southeastern facade of the building supports the hypothesis that it had at least two stories. A twin-bull figure found in the basement represents the sacred animals of the Storm God.

Temple I

Temple I, located on the northern terrace, shares a similar floor plan to Structure C. Fifty-one rooms have been identified in its basement level.

Archives and Tablets

In one of the southern rooms of Structure C, an archive room contained approximately 50 cuneiform tablets, mostly relating to divination (bird and liver omens), inventories, offerings lists, and food records. Tablets found in Structure D describe royal rituals and religious practices. These texts have been chronologically dated to the 13th century BCE.

Cuneiform Tablet Recovered from Archaeological Excavation (Sivas Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Water Structures

Three reservoir structures located in the southwestern, southeastern, and northwestern parts of the city have been dated to the late 16th century BCE. The northwestern reservoir measures 60 by 10 meters with a capacity of 4,300 cubic meters; the southwestern reservoir is 10 meters wide with a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters; and the southeastern reservoir is 40 meters wide with a capacity of 7,500 cubic meters. These dam structures represent some of the earliest examples of hydraulic engineering in Anatolia from the Hittite period. Open-air cult areas and architectural traces indicating the presence of the Huwaşi Stone have also been identified on the western side of the reservoir.

Storage and Agricultural Economy

Two types of storage systems have been identified at Sarissa: above-ground vessels for daily use and large-scale underground silos. In room 58 of Structure C, carbonized and partially germinated barley grains were recovered, suggesting the room may have been used for beer production. In Structure D, located south of the acropolis and measuring 50 by 30 meters, a large silo with a capacity of 1,200 cubic meters was uncovered. Analyses have revealed remains of five types of wheat (einkorn, emmer, sanduri, bread wheat, and barley), as well as foxtail millet, lentils, vetch, bitter vetch, peas, and flax.

Current Status and Conservation Efforts

According to the Sivas Governorate, efforts have been initiated to develop Sarissa for tourism. Governor Salih Ayhan visited the site, consulted with the excavation team, and emphasized the need to preserve and promote the historical value of Sarissa and Samuha. Artifacts recovered from the excavations are displayed at the Sivas Archaeology Museum, with some examples also exhibited at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

The Ancient City of Sarissa presents a significant example of Hittite urbanization, religious rituals, economic activities, and engineering practices through its architecture, written documents, and archaeological finds. The temple structures, particularly Structure C, known as the Temple of the Storm God, attract attention not only for their size but also for their sacred function. Moreover, the cuneiform tablets recovered from the city reveal that Sarissa was not merely a settlement but also one of the major cult centers of the Hittite world. The water systems, storage facilities, and defensive architecture reflect the Hittites’ technical expertise and foresight in urban planning. The excavations conducted to date have clearly established Sarissa’s historical identity and its prominent position in Anatolian archaeology. Based on the evidence gathered, it is evident that this settlement held a distinctive status among Hittite provincial towns.