Discovered by W.G. Hamilton in 1835, Alacahöyük is one of Turkey’s most fascinating archaeological sites. Excavations began in 1907 during the Ottoman era but were halted by World War I. After the founding of the Republic of Turkey, systematic excavations resumed in 1935 and continued into the 1970s.

While many monumental structures at Alacahöyük date back to the Hittite era, the most remarkable finds come from royal tombs dating to the 3rd millennium BCE. These graves, located at the heart of the settlement, underline the site’s religious significance for the community that once lived there. Within the tombs were extraordinary bronze sun disks and animal idols—testaments to a powerful elite. Interestingly, the rulers buried here likely came not from Anatolia, but from the steppes of southern Russia, speaking an Indo-European language. This theory is supported by the tombs' grandeur and the rich symbolism of the items buried within, including the famed twin-headed eagle—a mythological creature that later symbolized power across Hittite, Roman, and Seljuk civilizations.

The deceased were laid to rest in the fetal position, facing south, adorned with golden fibulae, diadems, belt buckles, and repoussé-style gold leaf figurines. In my opinion, the twin-headed eagle remains Alacahöyük’s most captivating artifact—a symbol of power and divinity for countless Anatolian cultures.

Before the rise of Hattusa as the Hittite capital, Alacahöyük held significant importance. The city’s masterful stonework and monumental architecture reveal its religious role during the Hittite period. The city walls, flanked with orthostat panels, featured internal and external gates with protective towers and archer ramps. The southern gate, known as the Sphinx Gate, is guarded by two massive sphinx sculptures and framed by monolithic columns carved into sphinx forms, standing nearly 4 meters high. The original reliefs and sphinxes, dated to the 13th century BCE, are now housed at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, with replicas displayed on-site.

Additional orthostat panels have been discovered near the gate, although their exact placements remain uncertain. The ancient name of Alacahöyük during the Hittite period is unknown, but scholars speculate the city may have been dedicated to the Hittite Sun Goddess of Arinna.

Life at Alacahöyük began long before the Hittite Empire rose to power—and continues to this day. The surrounding village of Alaca showcases the area’s ongoing importance. Fertile plains make it ideal for agriculture and livestock, a fact the Hittites understood well. They constructed reservoirs and irrigation systems, some of which are still in use by locals today. Don’t miss the ancient Hittite reservoir built by King Tudhaliya IV in 1240 BCE, just a short drive from the site.

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