Kültepe

The famous Hittite hill settlement at Kültepe is to be found to the northeast of Kayseri near the village of Karahüyük. The excavations here have uncovered an extensive site which comprises two towns and is regarded as the most important Bronze Age site in Turkey. In the 19th and 18th century B.C. Karum became a trading colony for the Assyrians in Anatolia.

In two of the four layers of ruins, 12,000 cuneiform scripts were found. According to the interpretations, the first trading center (1950-1850 B.C.) was destroyed by fire and accommodation in the nearby town of Kanes was extended. The rulers of the colony lived outside the settlement in a palace on a nearby hill. In 1790 B.C. this settlement also suffered a violent end. Phrygians are known to have built a fortress on the site after 1200 B.C. and established the principality of Tabal (ca. eighth century B.C.).

The excavations cover the 18m/60ft hill with Kanes measuring 250,000sq.m/300,000sq.yd and the trading colony of Karum below extending to 700,000sq.m/833,000sq.yd. The foundations of the crowded living accommodation, ruined temples and the palace can still be distinguished. Many of the finds can be seen in the museums of Ankara and Kayseri.