Alaca Höyük (Royal Tombs Annex Northeast)
Alaca Höyük Annex · Alacahöyük Royal Tombs Sector · Alaca Northeast Terrace
Chalcolithic through Byzantine (Chalcolithic, EB III Royal Tombs, Hattian, Hittite, Phrygian)·Hattian (Hamaylı) → Hittite → Phrygian·🇹🇷 Çorum Province, Alaca District, Boğazkale–Alaca ridge, Turkey
About
About Alaca Höyük (Royal Tombs Annex Northeast)
Alaca Höyük (Royal Tombs Annex Northeast) is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Çorum Province, Alaca District, Boğazkale–Alaca ridge, Turkey — Hattian princely necropolis and Hittite cult centre with sphinx gates and dams Excavated evidence reveals Hattian (Hamaylı) → Hittite → Phrygian cultural horizons with stone architecture. The citadel 300×250 m, 15 m high; royal tombs cemetery 0.8 ha, 13 shaft tombs preserves stone-socle mudbrick, hattian shaft-tomb with timber roofing, hittite orthostat sphinx gate technique. Position on Çorum Province illustrates definitive hattian royal tombs — most spectacular eb iii metalwork and hittite sphinx-gated temple.
Why it mattersDefinitive Hattian Royal Tombs — most spectacular EB III metalwork and Hittite sphinx-gated temple.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hattian language affiliation — isolate or Northwest Caucasian?
- 02Sphinx Gate cult — Hattian Storm-god or Hittite adoption?
Theories
- 01Koşay Hattian indigenous vs. Kurgan intrusion model for tombs
- 02Hittite cult continuity vs. reoccupation debate
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.5000 BCE Chalcolithic; EB III Royal Tombs 2600 BCE; Hattian-Hittite citadel 1650 BCE
- Period
- Chalcolithic through Byzantine (Chalcolithic, EB III Royal Tombs, Hattian, Hittite, Phrygian)
- Culture
- Hattian (Hamaylı) → Hittite → Phrygian
- Builders
- Hattian princes (Royal Tombs), Hittite citadel engineers
- Purpose
- Hattian princely necropolis and Hittite cult centre with sphinx gates and dams
- Abandoned
- c.600 CE Byzantine village abandonment
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1935–present Koşay, Akok, recent Çorum Museum (A. Süel)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1935
Koşay opens Royal Tombs, 13 shaft tombs with solar discs found
1937
Sphinx Gate and Hittite orthostats uncovered
2015
3D scanning and dam reservoir re-study published
On the ground
Structures & features
40.2344° N · 34.6956° E · 1080 m · 3 mapped features
EB III Hattian Royal Tombs Sector (13 shaft tombs)
necropolisIconic Hattian princely shaft tombs with bronzes
40.2346° N · 34.6957° EHittite Sphinx Gate and Temple-Palace
fortificationMonumental Hittite sphinx-gated citadel temple
40.2343° N · 34.6954° EHittite Dam and Reservoir System
hydraulicHittite rock-cut dam and reservoir south of citadel
40.2339° N · 34.6951° E