Alaca Höyük: Troy of Central Anatolia

Located approximately 45 km south of Çorum, Alaca Höyük is one of the most important historical heritages of Turkey. This ancient Hittite city was first excavated in 1907, however systematical archeological studies started in 1935 upon the order of Atatürk. These excavations continued with intervals until 1983, when the entire works were paused. The excavations were restarted in 1997 by Prof. Dr. Aykut Çınaroğlu, a scholar from Ankara University. 

The excavations of Alaca Höyük revealed layers of four civilizations, demonstrating that the region has been ceaselessly hosting settlements from the Chalcolithic Age (5500-3000 BC) until today. As an ancient city Alaca Höyük has always offered astonishing discoveries to scientists and academia. Probably the most interesting of all is the dam used to irrigate the cultivated fields and provide water to the city during the Hittite Era. This dam was unearthed by Prof. Çınaroğlu’s team. 

Dated back to 1250s BC, the Hittite Dam in Alaca Höyük is the most ancient dam known so far in Anatolia. However, when the excavations had to be paused once again in 2005 due to insufficient fund-ing, the studies on the dam had to be laid aside. At this point, Yüksel İnşaat took action and enabled the continuance of the incomplete works at the excavation site. A substantial portion of the Hittite Dam was unearthed. Furthermore, the Hittite Dam was reactivated after the completion of the excavations. This instance has been a unique experience for the archeology world. After almost 3250 years, the Hittite Dam has restarted to revive its environs.

 

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