Ancient site of Alacahöyük.   

People are known to have inhabited the ancient site of Alacahöyük since around 4000 BC.

It is the most important Hittite site in the world after Hattuşaş. The site was originally a Hattic (*) settlement and was taken over by the Hittites at the beginning of the second millennium BC with the Phrygians taking control after the demise of the Hittites.

The ruins date mainly from the Hittite period but excavations have found Hattic arte facts and tombs.

The Hittie people moved into Anatolia from around 2000 BC, they set up a number of city states which were eventually brought together by King Anitta in the mid-eighteenth century BC. 

The first excavations of the site were carried out by W.C Hamilton in 1835 and were continued by various other archeologists right up until today. Studies have shown that there are four layers of different cultures at Alacahöyük, these are the chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Hittite and Phrygian which are again divided into 15 distinct layers themselves. A Hittite dam made out of clay and covered in lime plaster then stone was discovered in 2004.

At the entrance to the site two sphinxes stand guarding the gate. They are surrounded by carved stone reliefs that depict religious ceremonies and festivals and also Hittite priests, kings and queens. The pathway past the gate is flanked by excavations and stone blocks which are the remains of the ancient city walls and the foundations of storage buildings.

Thirteen royal tombs dating from the Hattic period have been discovered in Alachöyük. The dead monarchs had been buried with gold jewellery and highly decorated belt buckles and weapons which are now on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. There are also visible the ruins of what is believed to be palace buildings and a temple.

Alacahuyuk is 45 kilometers south of Corum and 25km north of Boğazkale. Bogazkale is a modern village and the site of the Hittite capital of Hattuşaş. There is a museum in the village containing a small collection of finds from Hattuşaş which is open from 8 am until 5:30 everyday.

Transportation:
The vast ruins of the city of Hattuşaş are well worth a visit too. The best way to reach Alacahöyük is to take a taxi from Boğazkale or Sungurlu. There is a small village next to the ancient site with a shop, post office, pansiyon and restaurant although they may or may not be open during the time of your visit. Alacahöyük and Alacahöyük museum are open from 8am to 12pm and again from 1:30pm till 5:30pm. The museum contains Hattic pottery and standards and also an ethnographical section.

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(*) Hattic: Hattic was a language spoken by the Hattians in Asia Minor between the 3rd and the 2nd millennia BC.

(**)The Hattians: The Hattians were an ancient people who inhabited the land of Hatti in present-day central and southeastern parts of Anatolia, Turkey.