| Alacahöyük | |
 | |
| State | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Black Sea region |
| Territory | Central Black Sea region |
Alacahöyük is an archaeological site of the Black Sea region.
To know
Alacahöyük is a ruined city of the Hittites.
Geographical notes
The area is relatively small with a size of not even one square kilometer. After passing a small café, we find ourselves directly in a small museum, in which, in addition to the 14 different levels of settlement, some finds are exhibited. Explanatory documents are only available from Monday to Saturday. On the right you go to Hüyük, where a signposted circular path leads through the area, where there is a lot to see.
Background
The hill (Höyük in Turkish) at Alacahöyük has been the site of a continuous sequence of settlements since the Chalcolithic. The site has been continuously inhabited from then until the present settlement in the form of a modern small village. During the Early Bronze Age the hill was the center of a flourishing Hattic culture, however the most evident and most characteristic architectural remains date back to the Hittite period that followed that of the Hatti, from the 14th century. B.C.
During the Hittite period (c.1450-1180 BC) the site was home to a thriving community that thrived until the end of the Late Bronze Age. Although it has not yet been possible to identify the name of this Hittite center, archaeological data seem to confirm that it was an important religious center, probably the city of Arinna.
Many of the artifacts found in the royal tombs in Alacahöyük, including magnificent gold and bronze objects from the haptic period, are now found in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.
How to get
Unfortunately this place cannot be reached by public transport.
By car
The site is well signposted when you come from Çorum or Hattusa by car.
Permits / Rates
Admission is 3 TL
How to get around
Alacahöyük: full screen map.There is enough parking space in front of the site. The site is well organized and can be explored on foot.
What see
- 1 Door of the Sphinx. The Gate of the Sphinx cannot be overlooked. The two large sphinxes about 2 m high give the right impression about the imposing appearance of this door. Furthermore, many stone sculptures are still visible on the left and right sides of the city walls. These represent a procession to an altar on which the bull of the god of time is enthroned. In the front you can find the king in a prayer position. In the wake you can see sacrificial animals, musicians and jugglers with flutes and scales. The stones in the city walls are, however, copies. The originals can be found in the museum of Ankara.
- 2 13 Princely tombs. The tombs found here are attributed to the so-called Hatti phase and date back to the third millennium BC. The tomb finds are no longer here. However, the tombs can still be seen together with depictions of the tomb finds.
- 3 Street of columns. This street shows a sewer system with many openings. For trained eyes, wear marks can be seen on the swing doors. To the right and left are the foundations of ever larger temples and houses.
- 4 Alacahoyuk Museum, @[email protected].
10 TL. Museum with the finds of the site.
10 TL. Museum with the finds of the site.What to do
Although in many cases only the floor plans of the buildings have been preserved, there are many things to discover, such as sewers, gate registrations or grinding marks. The panels help a lot in this.
Shopping
There are several souvenir merchants right at the entrance, offering a selection of self-made Ankara souvenirs. These show Hittite or Hatti motifs or handicrafts from the region. The souvenirs to buy here don't match the kitsch found everywhere.
Where to eat
- 1 Tea garden (In the entrance area). With a view of the Sphinx Gate, you can enjoy the gözleme (the Turkish version of the crepes) and freshly made tea.
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- 1 Gölpınar Dam. Dam built by the Hittites in the second millennium to solve the problems of water shortage in the area.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Alacahöyük
Commons contains images or other files on Alacahöyük
