description Hattusa Overview
Hattusa was the capital city of the Hittite Empire, situated in central Anatolia near modern-day Boğazköy, Turkey. The site was occupied from approximately 1650 to 1200 BCE and is distinguished by its massive stone fortifications, underground tunnels, and the Great Temple complex. It also contained extensive cuneiform archives that have provided historians with significant details about Hittite laws, politics, and religion. Today, Hattusa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
insights Ranking position
Hattusa ranks #23 of 263 in the Archaeological Site ranking, behind Deir el-Medina, ahead of Tenochtitlan (Templo Mayor).
help Hattusa FAQ
Where is the ancient city of Hattusa located?
Hattusa was the capital city of the Hittite Empire and is located in central Anatolia near the modern-day town of Boğazköy, Turkey. It was occupied from approximately 1650 to 1200 BCE.
What are the most famous landmarks in Hattusa?
The site is distinguished by its massive stone fortifications, underground tunnels, and the Great Temple complex. Another famous feature is the Lion Gate, which features imposing stone carvings of lions guarding the entrance.
Who discovered the ruins of Hattusa?
The ruins were partially identified by European explorers in the 1830s. However, it was the German archaeologist Hugo Winckler who definitively identified the site as the Hittite capital during his extensive excavations starting in 1906.
What written language was found at Hattusa?
Archaeologists discovered a massive royal archive of over 30,000 clay tablets at Hattusa. These tablets were written in cuneiform and included multiple languages, which ultimately helped scholars decipher the Hittite language.
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