Alacahöyük

Quick Summary: Alacahöyük is one of Turkey's most important and earliest-excavated archaeological sites, located near Alaca in Çorum Province, approximately 25 km north of the Hittite capital Hattusha. The site spans nearly 6,000 years of habitation, from the Chalcolithic Age (c. 4000 BC) through the Phrygian and Roman periods, but is most famous for two discoveries: the spectacular Hattian "Royal Tombs" of the Early Bronze Age (c. 2500–2000 BC) — containing extraordinary gold jewellery, silver vessels, and enigmatic bronze "sun disc" standards — and the monumental Sphinx Gate of the Hittite Empire period (14th–13th century BC), whose carved reliefs depict religious processions, musicians, and animal scenes. As one of Turkey's first national excavation sites (begun in 1935 under Atatürk's personal encouragement), Alacahöyük holds a special place in the history of Turkish archaeology. The site is on Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

• Why Alacahöyük Matters
• Geography and Setting
• Historical Timeline
• The Hattian Royal Tombs
• The Bronze Standards
• The Sphinx Gate
• Hittite Period Structures
• Phrygian and Later Periods
• Religious Significance
• Excavation History
• The Alacahöyük Museum
• Visitor Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Sources and Further Reading

Why Alacahöyük Matters

Alacahöyük is significant on multiple levels:

The Royal Tombs: The thirteen Early Bronze Age shaft graves (c. 2500–2000 BC) are among the most spectacular prehistoric discoveries in the Near East — contemporary with the Royal Tombs of Ur in Mesopotamia and Troy II. They contained an astonishing wealth of gold diadems, silver goblets, bronze weapons, and the enigmatic "sun disc" standards that have become icons of pre-Hittite Anatolian art.

Hattian culture: The tombs provide the most vivid evidence of the Hatti — the pre-Indo-European people who inhabited central Anatolia before the Hittites arrived. Hattian religious concepts, deities, and artistic traditions were largely absorbed by the Hittites, making the Hatti a foundational culture for the Hittite Empire.

The Sphinx Gate: The monumental gate with its guardian sphinx sculptures and carved orthostats (relief-decorated stone slabs) is the best-preserved example of Hittite monumental gateway architecture outside Hattusha itself.

Turkish archaeological history: Alacahöyük was one of the first sites excavated as part of the Turkish Republic's national archaeological programme, launched in 1935 with the personal encouragement of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The excavations were a deliberate statement of cultural sovereignty — Turkish archaeologists studying Turkey's own ancient heritage.

Geography and Setting

Alacahöyük lies in Çorum Province, approximately 25 km north of Boğazköy (Hattusha, the Hittite capital) and 15 km south of the town of Alaca. The site occupies a low mound (höyük) on a gently rolling agricultural plateau at approximately 1,000 metres elevation.

The surrounding landscape is classic north-central Anatolian steppe — open fields of grain, scattered trees, and distant hills. This region was the heartland of the Hittite Empire (c. 1650–1180 BC), with Hattusha, Alacahöyük, and Yazılıkaya forming a triangle of major Hittite centres within a 30 km radius.

The climate is continental — cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers — creating dramatically different visiting conditions across the seasons.

Historical Timeline

The Hattian Royal Tombs

The Royal Tombs are Alacahöyük's most celebrated discovery:

Discovery

Thirteen shaft graves were excavated between 1935 and 1939 by Turkish archaeologist Remzi Oğuz Arık and his team. They were found in the earliest levels of the mound, dating to the Early Bronze Age (c. 2500–2000 BC).

Tomb Construction

• Rectangular pits cut into the earth, lined with stone
• Bodies placed in a contracted (flexed) position
• After burial, the pit was roofed with wooden beams and the heads of sacrificed cattle were placed on top — skulls with horns pointing upward
• The grave was then covered with earth

Grave Goods

The tombs contained extraordinary wealth:

• Gold diadems — thin gold bands worn as headpieces, some with intricate repousse decoration
• Gold and silver pins, brooches, and ornaments — personal jewellery of exceptional craftsmanship
• Silver goblets and vessels — finely crafted drinking vessels
• Bronze weapons — daggers, swords, and battle axes
• Bronze "sun disc" standards — the most famous and enigmatic objects from the tombs
• Copper figurines of bulls, stags, and other animals
• Ceramic vessels — pottery characteristic of the Early Bronze Age

Significance

The Royal Tombs demonstrate that pre-Hittite Anatolia (the Hattian period) possessed a sophisticated culture with advanced metallurgy, complex burial rituals, and a wealthy ruling elite. They are contemporary with the Royal Tombs of Ur and Troy II, placing Alacahöyük in a network of Early Bronze Age elite cultures across the Near East.

The Bronze Standards

The bronze "sun disc" standards from the Royal Tombs are Alacahöyük's most iconic objects:

Description

• Flat, circular or crescent-shaped discs mounted on long poles
• Typically decorated with stag (deer) or bull figures standing on top
• Open-work designs with geometric patterns (crosses, swastikas, concentric circles)
• Some standards have bells or pendants hanging from them
• Heights range from approximately 20 to 50 cm (disc portion)

Interpretation

Their function is debated:

• Ritual standards carried in religious processions
• Solar symbols representing sun worship
• Clan or tribal emblems identifying different lineages
• Funerary objects specifically made for burial

The stag and bull motifs continued into Hittite art and religion, suggesting cultural continuity from Hattian to Hittite civilisation. The standards are now among the most recognisable symbols of ancient Anatolian art and are displayed prominently in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

The Sphinx Gate

The Sphinx Gate is Alacahöyük's most visually impressive Hittite-period monument:

Description

• A monumental gateway in the Hittite fortification wall, flanked by two large sphinx sculptures
• The sphinxes are human-headed, winged feline figures — guardian spirits protecting the entrance to the sacred precinct
• The gate passageway is lined with orthostats — carved stone slabs depicting religious and ceremonial scenes

Orthostat Reliefs

The carved relief slabs depict:

• Religious processions — figures approaching a seated deity (probably the Storm God or the Sun Goddess of Arinna)
• Musicians — players of stringed instruments and drums
• Acrobats and performers — figures in dynamic poses, possibly performing at a festival
• Hunting scenes — a figure on a chariot hunting a boar
• Animal scenes — bulls, lions, and other creatures
• Ritual offerings — figures carrying offerings to a deity seated on a throne

Dating

The Sphinx Gate and its reliefs date to the Hittite Empire period, probably the 14th–13th century BC — the height of Hittite power.

Current State

The original sphinxes and many orthostats are in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Replicas have been placed at the site, allowing visitors to experience the gateway's original appearance. Some original orthostats remain in situ.

Hittite Period Structures

Beyond the Sphinx Gate, the Hittite period at Alacahöyük includes:

Temple Area

A temple complex adjacent to the Sphinx Gate, indicating that Alacahöyük was a significant religious centre during the Hittite Empire — not a political capital but a sacred site.

Fortification Walls

Massive stone walls encircling the Hittite settlement, with the Sphinx Gate serving as the main ceremonial entrance. The walls demonstrate sophisticated Hittite military engineering.

Postern Tunnel

A postern tunnel (underground passage) through the fortification wall — a characteristic feature of Hittite military architecture, also found at Hattusha. These tunnels allowed defenders to make surprise sorties against besieging armies.

Storage Facilities

Large storage rooms (magazines) containing pithos vessels — indicating that the site served as a regional storage and redistribution centre as well as a religious site.

Phrygian and Later Periods

After the collapse of the Hittite Empire (c. 1180 BC), Alacahöyük continued to be occupied:

Phrygian Period (c. 800–550 BC)

• The Phrygians built new structures on top of the Hittite levels
• Phrygian pottery and architectural remains have been identified
• The site was probably a modest settlement during this period, no longer a major religious centre

Roman Period

• Limited evidence of Roman-period occupation
• The mound gradually became agricultural land

Religious Significance

Alacahöyük appears to have been a sacred site throughout much of its history:

Hattian Period

The elaborate Royal Tombs, with their sacrificed cattle and bronze standards, suggest that Alacahöyük was a place of religious or political significance for the Hattian elite — possibly a ceremonial centre or royal necropolis.

Hittite Period

The Sphinx Gate and associated temple complex indicate that Alacahöyük was an important religious centre during the Hittite Empire. The relief scenes of processions and offerings suggest it may have been associated with major Hittite religious festivals, possibly the AN.TAH.SUM festival or the puruli festival honouring the Storm God.

The proximity to Hattusha (25 km) suggests that Alacahöyük may have served as a satellite religious centre for the capital — a sacred site where specific ceremonies were performed.

Cultural Continuity

The presence of both Hattian and Hittite religious material at the same site demonstrates the cultural continuity between these two civilisations. The Hittites absorbed Hattian religious concepts, deities (including the Sun Goddess of Arinna, the supreme deity of the Hittite pantheon), and sacred places.

Excavation History

Founding of Turkish National Archaeology

• 1935: Excavations began under Remzi Oğuz Arık, sponsored by the Turkish Historical Society (Türk Tarih Kurumu) with the personal encouragement of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
• This was one of the first major archaeological excavations conducted entirely by Turkish scholars at a Turkish site — a symbolic milestone for the young Republic's cultural programme
• The Royal Tombs were discovered in the first seasons (1935–1939), creating enormous public excitement

Subsequent Campaigns

• 1940s–1970s: Excavations continued under Hamit Zübeyr Koşay and later Mahmut Akok
• The Hittite-period Sphinx Gate, temple, and fortifications were exposed
• 1990s–present: Ongoing Turkish excavations have focused on Phrygian and later levels, conservation, and site interpretation

The Finds

The most important finds — gold diadems, silver vessels, bronze standards, sphinx sculptures, and orthostat reliefs — are displayed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, one of the world's premier archaeology museums. A selection of finds and replicas is displayed in the on-site Alacahöyük Museum.

The Alacahöyük Museum

A small site museum at Alacahöyük houses:

• Replicas of the major Royal Tomb finds (originals in Ankara)
• Original pottery, tools, and smaller artefacts from all periods
• Photographs and documentation of the excavations
• Information panels explaining the site's history and significance
• The museum provides essential context for understanding what the exposed ruins represent

Visitor Information

Location: Near Alaca, Çorum Province. Approximately 25 km north of Boğazköy (Hattusha), 15 km south of Alaca town.

Getting There: By car from Çorum (75 km, 1 hour) or from Boğazköy/Hattusha (25 km, 30 minutes). No regular public transport to the site — visitors typically drive or arrange transport from Çorum or Boğazköy. Çorum is accessible by bus from Ankara (4 hours).

Hours: Daily, typically 08:00–17:00 (may extend in summer). The site museum has the same hours.

Admission: Entrance fee applies. Museum Pass Turkey valid.

Duration: 1–2 hours for the site and museum.

Combined Visits:

• Hattusha (Boğazköy) — Hittite capital, UNESCO World Heritage Site (25 km south); the essential companion visit
• Yazılıkaya — open-air Hittite rock sanctuary with carved reliefs of gods (28 km south; near Hattusha)
• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara — houses the original Royal Tomb finds and Sphinx Gate sculptures
• Çorum Museum — regional archaeology museum

Tips:

• Visit Alacahöyük in combination with Hattusha and Yazılıkaya for a full day in the Hittite heartland
• See the originals at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara before or after visiting the site
• The site museum provides essential context — visit it before exploring the ruins
• The Sphinx Gate replicas give a good sense of the original monumental entrance
• Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather for visiting
• The drive between Alacahöyük and Hattusha passes through beautiful rolling Anatolian steppe

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Royal Tombs of Alacahöyük? Thirteen Early Bronze Age shaft graves (c. 2500–2000 BC) containing gold diadems, silver vessels, bronze standards, and other treasures. They belong to the Hattian culture, the pre-Hittite civilisation of central Anatolia.

What are the bronze standards? Enigmatic bronze disc and crescent objects mounted on poles, decorated with stag and bull figures. Found in the Royal Tombs, they may be ritual standards, solar symbols, or clan emblems. They are iconic symbols of ancient Anatolian art.

What is the Sphinx Gate? A monumental Hittite gateway (14th–13th c. BC) flanked by sphinx sculptures and lined with carved relief slabs depicting religious processions, musicians, and hunting scenes.

Who were the Hatti? The Hatti (Hattians) were the pre-Indo-European inhabitants of central Anatolia before the Hittites. Their culture, religion, and sacred sites were largely absorbed by the Hittites. The Hittites even named their land "Hatti" in honour of its previous inhabitants.

Where are the original finds? The major finds are in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. The site museum at Alacahöyük has replicas and smaller original artefacts.

Is Alacahöyük a UNESCO site? It is on Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List but has not yet been formally inscribed. Nearby Hattusha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Detailed Tomb Inventory and Measurements

The fourteen Early Bronze Age shaft graves excavated between 1935 and 1939 varied considerably in size and contents. The following table summarises the documented tombs with their dimensions and principal finds:

The twin idols from Tomb H, each measuring approximately 3 x 3 cm, were cut from thin sheets of gold and placed in pairs alongside the deceased. These small votive figures remain among the most enigmatic artefacts of pre-Hittite Anatolia.

Bronze Standards: Classification and Technical Details

Archaeologist Winfried Orthmann classified the more than forty standards recovered from the royal tombs into two principal groups:

One well-documented Hattian specimen measures 23.5 cm in width with an overall height of 34 cm including the attachment base. The disc-shaped examples typically feature a central grill surrounded by bands decorated with projections in the shapes of birds, flowers, or radiating solar rays. Several standards include small bells or pendants that would have produced sound when carried in procession.

The seven anthropomorphic figurines found within the tombs constitute a separate category: four are bronze and three are silver, each standing between 8 and 15 cm tall. Their flat, schematic forms suggest ritual or votive purposes rather than portraiture.

Mound Dimensions and Stratigraphic Record

The Alacahöyük mound measures 310 metres by 275 metres with a maximum height of approximately 14 metres above the surrounding plain, encompassing roughly 17 acres (approximately 7 hectares). The site's stratigraphy reveals the following cultural sequence based on excavation levels:

Sphinx Gate: Architectural Measurements

Recent documentation has refined our understanding of the Sphinx Gate's dimensions:

• Gate width: approximately 10 metres
• Sphinx protome height: approximately 2 metres, carved from monolithic stone blocks
• Total carved section: approximately 4 metres including the door-frame pillars
• Orthostat height: approximately 1.2 metres per slab, with evidence of a second row placed above the existing lower course

The gate formed part of a defensive circuit that included two gates in total. The second gate is now largely ruined, though the postern tunnel beneath it — a characteristic Hittite military feature — remains accessible. This underground passage, cut through the fortification wall's foundations, is comparable to the better-known postern tunnels at Hattusha and served as a sally port for surprise counterattacks during siege conditions.

Excavation Chronology: Detailed Record

The 1935-1939 excavations were notable not only for their archaeological importance but for their role in the Turkish Republic's cultural programme. President Atatürk personally visited the site and followed the progress of excavations through regular reports, making Alacahöyük a symbol of Turkey's commitment to studying its own pre-Islamic heritage through its own scholars.

Sources and Further Reading

• Remzi Oğuz Arık, Alaca Höyük Hafriyatı 1935 (TTK, 1937)
• Hamit Zübeyr Koşay, Alacahöyük Kazısı (TTK, various volumes)
• Tahsin Özgüç, "The Hattian Period at Alaca Höyük" — journal articles
• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara — Royal Tomb and Sphinx Gate galleries
• UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List — Alacahöyük
• World History Encyclopedia, "Hattian Royal Tombs at Alacahöyük"
• Turkish Archaeological News — Alacahöyük