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this Labarna changed his name to Hattusili I, meaning the one from Hattusa'. Labarna and subsequent rulers built up Hattusa until it was worthy of the title of capital of the Hittite Empire.

Over time the city grew to 180 hectares, and there were distinct inner and outer sections. There have been estimates of a city population of 50,000 at Hattusa's peak. The inner section covered some 80 hectares, and contained the citadel with temples and administrative buildings. The outer section of 100 hectares lay predominantly to the south of the inner city. In this section there were a further four temples, each set in there own courtyard. The majority of the area though was set aside for residential buildings.

Both sections of the city were surrounded by massive walls, the courses of which are still visible today. At some points the walls have been estimated to be twenty-six feet thick. There were also elaborate gateways set into the walls, and they were often decorated with images of soldiers, lions and sphinxes. Beyond the walls there are the remnants of a number of cemeteries, enclosing numerous cremation burials.

A series of Hittite kings used Hattusa as their capital, although on a number of occasions the capital moved because of invasion threat. The city though was eventually destroyed in about 1200 BC, and coincided with the collapse of the Hittite Empire. Civil war and an external threat from Grecian tribes weakened the Hittites and it eventually collapsed. All that remained were city states, some of which survived into the late 8th century BC. The site of Hattusa was eventually abandoned in about 800BC.

The site was rediscovered in 1874, though it wasn't until 1893-94 that Ernest Chantre commenced the first excavations. Much of Hattusa was timber built therefore the most obvious remnants are the stone built temples and palaces. The majority of the excavations have been undertaken by German archaeologists in conjunction with their Turkish colleagues.

There have been some notable discoveries at the site. In the digs of 1906-1912 a large number of clay tablets were uncovered. Once they writing on the tablets were deciphered, it was discovered that they held details of the royal archives. The tablets provided details of official correspondence, legal codes, religious text and literature of the Hittite Empire. There has now been some 30,000 tablets or part tablets now uncovered, although one of the most important shows a peace treaty with Egypt, under the leadership of Rameses II, from about 1283 BC.

There have been almost continuous excavations on the site since the end of World War II. Some of the most recent work has been on reconstruction of the city walls, rather than restoration or further excavations.

Alongside Persepolis, this is another of the archaeological sites in the Middle East that is a must for all those interested in ancient history. Though there is perhaps less evidence readily visible than in many sites in Egypt, though the images and decoration on the Lions' Gate' and Royal Gate' are worth a look at.

Learn more about this author, Tim Harry.
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