After overnighting in Ankara we headed off to Bogazkale the Hattusa National Park where the 2500BC ruins of Hattusa the Hittite Capital, are strew over a large area of the countryside at this site and nearby at Alcahoyuk which dates back to 4000BC. What impressive ancient sites they were! It very easy to wander around trying to visualize what life may have been like there in that Early and late Bronze Age. One must wonder why this ancient city was abandoned in 1200BC. Some historians say it was due to the decline of the Bronze Age, but will we ever really know?
Hattusa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986.
(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them.) |
| Hattusa and the surrounding countryside. |
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| The extensive Hattusa site. |
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| Some of our group at the site. |
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| Our intrepid guide Tas sitting on The Font Of Knowledge informing us of the history of Hattusa |
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| Fran exiting from a long narrow tunnel at the entrance of the Citadel |
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| Our group at the Lion's gate. |
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| Bas Reliefs at Yazilikaya (means inscribed rock) |
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Bass Relief Yazilikaya
Where as Hattusa flourished during the Late Bronze age, Alacahoyuk was the centre of a thriving Hattian settlement during the Early Bronze age. This site was especially interesting as thirteen shaft-graves "Royal Tombs" were discovered in the mound (hoyuk means mound). The graves contained many rich artifacts and skeletal remains placed in a fetal position.
Naturally enough after our visit here we piled back in the bus and headed for the Corum Museum where we were able to view a number of the amazing artifacts from Hattusa and Alacahoyuk. The more we saw and read in the Museum the more curious we became about these ancient civilisation.
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