The Hittites moved into Anatolia around 2000 BCE
and established their capital at a place called
Hatuşaş, a large fortified city
on the side of a mountain, overlooking a large valley.
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They eventually ruled a vast empire, conqueroring
Babylon and challenging the Egyptian pharoahs.
Their empire declined after about 1250 BCE.
This is the Great Temple district in the lower city.
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The Hittites developed technology to form strong
bronze pins, and more impressive yet, to drill
precise holes in stone.
The pins held the precisely-cut stones in place.
3400 years later, the holes are still very clean!
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The Lower City district, with Büyükkaya
(Big Rock) visible across the valley beyond the
Great Temple.
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The Sphinx Gate Tunnel, at the upper entrance
to the city.
The Hittites had a strongly fortified city.
The entrances were through easily defended tunnels
or fortified gates.
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Archeaologists gave this structure the boring name
of "Chamber 1".
It is one of two such arched domes at
Hatuşaş.
They are said to be the oldest domes of stone
masonry known in the Near East.
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Luvian hieroglyphs at Nişantaş,
former site of a large ediface.
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Luvian hieroglyphs in "Chamber 2", the
Hieroglyph Chamber.
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Luvian hieroglyphs in "Chamber 2", the
Hieroglyph Chamber.
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Looking down from Büyükkale,
or "Big Fortress", at the upper end of the
fortified city.
In the distance is the village of
Boğazkale,
and beyond that is the valley leading toward
the town of Sungurlu, about 25 kilometers away.
"Boğazkale" means "Throat Fortress",
and you can see that the Hittites located their
city at the "throat" of valleys leading up into
the mountains behind this view, and opening
into the valleys.
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The carvings in Chamber A at
Yazılıkaya.
"Yazılıkaya" means "Carved Stone".
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The carvings in Chamber A at
Yazılıkaya.
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The carvings in Chamber A at
Yazılıkaya.
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The carvings in Chamber A at
Yazılıkaya.
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The carvings in Chamber B at
Yazılıkaya.
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The carvings in Chamber B at
Yazılıkaya.
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View over the village of Boğazkale
and lower Hatuşaş,
from the top of Büyükkaya.
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There is no bus station in Boğazkale,
it is a small farming village.
Take a bus to the larger town of Sungurlu, there is
frequent service on buses out of Ankara.
Then take a dolmuş from Sungurlu to Boğazkale.
Beware: there may be no dolmuş service on Sundays.
You might be able to arrange the rest of trip
by hiring a driver in Sungurlu.
You can leave by reversing part of your trip to
Boğazkale,
or there might be a dolmuş heading through the
mountains to Yozgat, where you could continue by bus
toward Göreme or other places in Cappadocia.
