Alacahoyuk Historic Site and Museum of Turkey

Alacahöyük is found 45 kilometers south of Çorum and 17 kilometers northwest of the Alaca township. The Alacahöyük village is 34 kilometres far away from Boğazköy and 210 kilometers removed from Ankara. 

This tumulus, or mound, was first introduced to the planet of science by W.C. Hamilton in 1835, and afterward, it became an area frequented by scientists who visited Central Anatolia. In 1861, G. Perrot stopped this tumulus and discovered the plan of the square tower on the left and right of the door and one in every of the orthostats.

Meteoritic iron was transformed into a golden-handled dagger that welcomes tourists at the reception of Alacahöyük Museum. Such a special weapon, made over 4,500 years ago, is the best welcome to boundless marvels inside this amazing museum. The museum conserves the relics of one of the most fascinating Bronze Age settlements ever discovered. Although most of Alaca Höyük treasures are kept at Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the site itself remains a reminder of the history richness of the area.

Archaeological Discoveries at Alacahoyuk Historic Site

W. Ramsey, who made great contributions to Anatolia’s historical geography, studied the tumulus along with Wilson in 1881 and located some other reliefs. In 1893, E. Chantre came to the tumulus and located the square corridors among the sphinx, the second door at the top and therefore the door frames. Chantre studied the lions on the south of the door with the sphinx and believed that the inscription found on one of these doors was Phrygian writing.

Later H. Winckler, who had been working in Boğazköy since 1906, decided to begin a quest within the tumulus at the invitation of Makridi Bey and İstanbul Archaeology Museum Director Halil Ethem Bey. In 1907, Makridi Bey worked for 15 days at the door. After drilling some places within the tumulus, he saw the poterni (entrance) on the northern fringe of the tumulus, and he compared this to the potern in Boğazköy.

The primary systematic excavations of the tumulus were started by Atatürk within the Republican era. Hamit Zübeyr Koşay, Remzi Oğuz Arik, and Mahmut Akok from the Turkish History Institution began excavations in 1935, which lasted until 1983. The excavations were interrupted this year, and in 1997, they were started again by Professor Aykut Çınaroğlu.
 

Kings’ tombs in Alacahoyuk Historic Site

There were 14 major kings’ tombs in Alacahöyük within the Old Bronze Age, which was developed by the Chalcolithic Age and was designed by four layers.
The tombs, which are believed to belong to layers five and seven, are located in a special area of the town. Thanks to their forms, these are considered to be unique tombs of Anatolia and even the Asian frontier. These tombs belong to adult men and women. Exploring these ancient burial sites adds a deeper historical dimension to your Turkey trip.

No children or babies were buried here. In contrast to the tomb types in Central Anatolia, in Alacahöyük there's uniformity within the direction of the tombs and also the buried people. The gifts buried together with the dead are the richest and most varied that are found within the Aegean and therefore the Asia frontier within the Old Bronze Age. Among these gifts are sun disks, deer and bull sculptures, decorative pieces, fighting tools like daggers, swords and axes, and other pieces made out of cooked clay, stones, gold, silver, bronze, and copper.

The architectural system of Alacahöyük within the Old Bronze Age trusted the authentic building technique of Anatolia. Buildings constructed using this method have stone foundations, sun-dried bricks, flat ceilings, plastered floors, and earth roofs. The Hittite layers that form the visible part of Alacahöyük are formed by three layers. During this age, a munition was formed within the sort of a circle with a diameter of 250 meters, and on this circle, two main gates that were the entrances to town are found. One among these entrances was the eastern door with a sphinx and also the door on the western side of the tumulus.

The heads are remarkable on the sphinx protomes that are carved on monolithic stone lentos. Sphinxes with inflated bodies continue on top of separated short legs. There's also a double-headed eagle carrying a rabbit in his claws within the interior side of the sphinx on the east. Alacahöyük stands among the many historical attractions in Turkey, alongside sites like Hattusa and Göbekli Tepe.

Walking Through the Alacahöyük Museum

The primary Alacahöyük museum that opened in 1940 moved to its present site 42 years later. The collection that occupies two floors of the museum building consists of the finds from the Alacahoyuk and Pazarlı archeological sites. We are sure that visitors would be noticeably curious about the Alacahöyük Museum during their tour, the gathering of which grows richer because the new archeological discoveries are made.

Ground-floor galleries

Hamit Zübeyr Kosay Hall greets curious minds at the entrance, its walls showing panels revealing Alacahoyuk's historical significance to Turkish archeology. Glass display cases hold precious excavation material, yellowed pages of scientific magazines unfolding decades of archaeological history.

Time slips by like water through these ground-floor corridors. Ancient artifacts line the walls in flawless chronological sequence, beginning with Chalcolithic remains and flowing smoothly into Early Bronze Age masterpieces. Each object is accompanied by learned understanding, turning inadvertent spectators into discerning witnesses.

Upper floor collections

Wooden steps lead to twin treasure rooms above. Remzi Oguz Arik Hall holds precious discoveries from the very first chapters of humankind - Chalcolithic tools side by side with Bronze Age masterpieces. The neighboring room, Mahmut Akok Hall, is dominated by breathtaking Hittite and Phrygian masterpieces, each having tales of long-lost craftsmen. Fresh discoveries add treasures to these sacred rooms. Treasures today exhibited by visitors include four eras' worth:

• Hattian masterpiece
• Hittite grandeur
• Phrygian brilliance
• Ottoman heritage

Modern minds transformed this trail in 2011 into pathways which, quite instinctively, draw people through epochs. Each gallery is now an epilogue, each exhibit a line in the great novel of the ancient societies of Anatolia, preserved with untarnished brightness for still-to-be-born generations.

FAQS

Q1. What is the significance of Alacahöyük Historic Site?

Alacahöyük is one of Turkey's most important archaeological sites, offering insight into the Hattian and Hittite civilizations. It was a major religious and political center during the Hittite Empire, featuring impressive sphinx gate reliefs, royal tombs, and remnants of advanced urban planning.

Q2. What can visitors see inside the Alacahöyük Museum?

The museum showcases artifacts excavated from the site, including Bronze Age royal tomb findings, Hittite sculptures, and Phrygian relics. Visitors can explore chronological displays of pottery, weapons, and decorative items, as well as learn about the site's excavation history through photographs and scientific documents.

Q3. What are the opening hours of the Alacahöyük Museum today?

The Alacahöyük Museum opens from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Please note that the box office closes at 4:30 PM. It's advisable to verify these hours before planning your visit, as they may vary on special days or holidays. 

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