Sapinuwa
Ortaköy Sapinuwa · Sapinuwa (Ortaköy)
Hittite Empire (c.1600–1200 BCE; peak Sapinuwa 1500–1200 BCE as second capital)·Hittite (Old → Empire)·🇹🇷 Çorum Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey
About
About Sapinuwa
Sapinuwa (Ortaköy, Çorum) is the Hittite Empire's second capital and military–religious administration — Building A with 3000+ Hittite cuneiform tablets (largest after Hattusa), Hurrian–Hittite bilingual incantations, and monumental Building B storehouse. Süel excavations since 1990 reveal orthostat gate and temple. Served as refuge when Hattusa fell, then burnt c.1180 BCE.
Why it mattersSecond largest Hittite archive; military–Hurrian bilingual centre.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why second capital vs Hattusa?
Theories
- 01Military assembly model (Süel)
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.1600 BCE
- Period
- Hittite Empire (c.1600–1200 BCE; peak Sapinuwa 1500–1200 BCE as second capital)
- Culture
- Hittite (Old → Empire)
- Builders
- Hittite kings (Hantili II?)
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.1180 BCE (Bronze collapse)
- Rediscovered
- 1989 (Aygül Süel)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1500 BCE
Sapinuwa second capital established
c.1180 BCE
Burnt in Bronze collapse; tablets baked
1989
Aygül Süel discovers tablets at Ortaköy
On the ground
Structures & features
40.2700° N · 35.2200° E · 1050 m · 3 mapped features
Building A Cuneiform Archive (3000 Tablets)
archiveHittite archive building with 3000+ tablets — Hurrian-Hittite bilinguals and military orders
40.2703° N · 35.2202° EBuilding B Pithos Storehouse
storageMonumental 8-m tall pithos storage complex with drainage
40.2696° N · 35.2203° EOrthostat Gate and Hittite Temple Terrace
templeGate with orthostat lions and temple platform
40.2705° N · 35.2196° E