Türkiye’s 8,000-year-old Hattusa begins 120th year of excavations

Türkiye’s 8,000-year-old ancient city of Hattusa has entered its 120th year of archaeological excavations, with a multinational team of 55 scientists beginning fieldwork at the site in Çorum province. The project involves researchers from Türkiye and four other countries, focusing on one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in Anatolia. Hattusa, once the capital of the Hittite Empire, holds significance as a key center of early civilization, with evidence tracing back to the 6th millennium BCE. The site is recognized globally, having been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and the Memory of the World Register. Excavations at Hattusa, which span over a century, have uncovered layers of human activity from multiple eras, including the Chalcolithic, pre-Hittite, Hittite, Iron Age, Galatian, Byzantine, and Roman periods. These efforts continue under the supervision of the German Archaeological Institute, operating within the framework of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Heritage for the Future Project. The site covers approximately two square kilometers, enclosed by fortification walls stretching nearly seven kilometers. The current season’s excavations are led by Professor Andreas Schachner, who has directed the work since 2006. His team includes experts from diverse scientific disciplines such as archaeology, geology, geomorphology, architecture, philology, and archaeozoology. In addition to the academic staff, around 105 local workers are assisting with the physical aspects of the dig. Schachner emphasized the international nature of the collaboration, noting that professionals and students from various countries contribute to the research. Schachner explained that the multidisciplinary approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the site. Researchers are examining everything from environmental conditions and material culture to linguistic records and faunal remains. He described the work as assembling a large puzzle, where each piece contributes to a broader understanding of the region’s past. “We collect raw data and collaborate to interpret it,” he said, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the findings. The significance of Hattusa lies in its role as the heart of the Hittite civilization, which ruled the region for about 450 years. Its strategic location and long history make it a crucial site for studying the evolution of human societies in Anatolia. Schachner noted that the site offers insights into the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, spanning from around 5500 BCE up to modern times. This year’s excavations are taking place at five distinct locations within the Hattusa complex. The primary focus remains on the Hittite period, although the team is also investigating earlier layers, including the Chalcolithic era. Despite these efforts, challenges remain due to the site’s complex geological structure and the limitations of geophysical surveys. Schachner acknowledged that determining what lies beneath the surface is often uncertain, requiring careful interpretation based on available data. The work at Hattusa continues to attract interest from scholars worldwide, driven by the site’s rich historical context and the potential for new discoveries. As the excavations progress, the goal is to refine the existing narrative of Anatolia’s ancient past, integrating findings from different time periods to create a more complete picture of the region’s cultural development. With each season, the team aims to uncover additional elements that will help reconstruct the intricate story of Hattusa and its inhabitants.