Hattusa

𒌷𒄩𒀜𒌅𒊭 Ḫattuša (Hittite)
Hattuşaş (Turkish)
The Lion Gate in the south-west
Hattusa is located in Turkey
Hattusa
Shown within Turkey
LocationNear Boğazkale, Çorum Province, Turkey
RegionAnatolia
Coordinates40°01′11″N 34°36′55″E / 40.01972°N 34.61528°E / 40.01972; 34.61528
TypeSettlement
History
Founded6th millennium BC
Abandonedc. 1200 BC
PeriodsBronze Age
CulturesHittite
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins
Official nameHattusha: the Hittite Capital
CriteriaCultural: i, ii, iii, iv
Reference377
Inscription1986 (10th Session)
Area268.46 ha

Hattusa, also Hattuşa, Ḫattuša, Hattusas, or Hattusha, was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age during two distinct periods. Its ruins lie near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, (originally Boğazköy) within the great loop of the Kızılırmak River (Hittite: Marashantiya; Greek: Halys).

Charles Texier brought attention to the ruins after his visit in 1834. Over the following century, sporadic exploration occurred, involving different archaeologists. In the 20th century, the German Oriental Society and the German Archaeological Institute conducted systematic excavations, which continue to this day.[1] Hattusa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1986.

  1. ^ Gates, Charles (2011). Ancient cities: the archaeology of urban life in the ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-203-83057-4.