Eskiyapar Höyük (Eskiyapar / Alaca Ridge)
Eskiyapar Höyük · Eskiyapar · Alaca-Eskiyapar
Early Bronze through Iron Age·Hattian/EBA → Assyrian Colony → Hittite → Phrygian·🇹🇷 Çorum Province, Alaca District, Alaca plain, Turkey
About
About Eskiyapar Höyük (Eskiyapar / Alaca Ridge)
Eskiyapar Höyük (Eskiyapar / Alaca Ridge) is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Çorum Province, Alaca District, Alaca plain, Turkey — Karum-period trade town and Hittite road station linking Kaneš to Hattusa–Alacahöyük corridor Excavated evidence reveals Hattian/EBA → Assyrian Colony → Hittite → Phrygian cultural horizons with mudbrick architecture. The mound 220×180 m, 18 m high; lower settlement 6 ha preserves mudbrick on stone foundation, karum-period storage jars, hittite glacis technique. Position on Çorum Province illustrates bridges kaneš karum to hittite heartland — old assyrian tablets with seal impressions.
Why it mattersBridges Kaneš karum to Hittite heartland — Old Assyrian tablets with seal impressions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Eskiyapar the Ankuwa of Hittite texts vs. Alişar?
- 02Karum seal style — Kaneš import or local carving?
Theories
- 01Temizer karum entrepôt vs. Süel Hittite road station
- 02Assyrian-Hittite continuity model
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.3200 BCE EBA; Assyrian Colony karum 1950 BCE; Hittite fortified town 1650 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze through Iron Age
- Culture
- Hattian/EBA → Assyrian Colony → Hittite → Phrygian
- Builders
- Hattian princes, Assyrian karum merchants, Hittite garrison
- Purpose
- Karum-period trade town and Hittite road station linking Kaneš to Hattusa–Alacahöyük corridor
- Abandoned
- c.700 BCE Phrygian abandonment
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1991–present Temizer & Süel (Ankara/Çorum)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1991
Temizer opens trench, karum tablet fragment found
2006
Hittite seal with Luwian hieroglyphs published
2018
Lower town magnetometry reveals 6 ha extramural grid
On the ground
Structures & features
40.1283° N · 34.7844° E · 960 m · 3 mapped features
Karum Tablet Horizon (Level III)
archiveOld Assyrian tablet and sealed bullae horizon
40.1285° N · 34.7846° EHittite Fortified Road-Station Gate
fortificationHittite postern and casemate
40.1281° N · 34.7842° EEB III Burnt Palace Layer
palaceEB III destruction with mass storage jars
40.1286° N · 34.7847° E