In the heart of Turkey's Anatolian region lies a treasure trove of ancient history – Hattusa, the former capital of the Hittite Empire. This city, dating back to the Bronze Age around 2000 BC, has long fascinated archaeologists and historians with its enigmatic ruins and inscriptions. Recently, an exciting discovery has been made in Hattusa that sheds new light on this ancient civilization: the deciphering of mysterious hieroglyphs found in the Yerkapı Tunnel.
The Yerkapı Tunnel, a famous passage that every visitor traverses in the Hattusa Ruins, has been the subject of archaeological attention for years. In 2022, Associate Professor Dr. Bülent Genç, a faculty member of the Archaeology Department at Mardin Artuklu University, made a groundbreaking discovery. In the tunnel's inner walls, a total of 249 symbols, believed to be 3500 years old, were found. These symbols are Anatolian hieroglyphs, a writing system consisting of around 500 different signs.
Perhaps the most significant revelation from the deciphered hieroglyphs is the identity of the person responsible for the construction of the Yerkapı Tunnel. The inscriptions prominently feature the name "Arişadu," and his title, thus providing a glimpse into the individual responsible for this remarkable structure.
In addition to the name "Arişadu," the hieroglyphs contain references to "Tuthaliya Mountain" and "road," visible on the tunnel's western side. This combination of symbols hints at the tunnel's purpose: as a road leading to Tuthaliya Mountain.
Tuthaliya Mountain holds great significance in Hittite culture. It is considered a sacred mountain, so revered that several Hittite kings derived their royal names from it. The road symbol in the hieroglyphs suggests various interpretations, such as "the road from Tuthaliya," "the road leading to Tuthaliya Mountain," or "the road passing through Tuthaliya Mountain."
The head of the excavation, Prof. Dr. Andreas Schachner, highlights the significance of these findings: "Due to the presence of these symbols in a tunnel, my hypothesis is whether we can associate Yerkapı with Tuthaliya Mountain or if there is an artificially constructed Tuthaliya Mountain, because from the outside, especially when viewed from the plains, Yerkapı is at the highest point of Hattusa and is therefore visible from all sides. It is located in a manner befitting a sacred place."
What makes this discovery particularly intriguing is the insight it provides into the Hittite civilization's use of Anatolian hieroglyphs. Prof. Dr. Schachner notes that these hieroglyphs served as signatures or expressions of accomplishment by the individuals responsible for various structures. Unlike cuneiform script, which was more elite and state-centric, Anatolian hieroglyphs appear to have had a broader range of applications, including everyday communication, city navigation signs, and more.
This deciphering of the Yerkapı Tunnel hieroglyphs represents a significant step in understanding the Hittite era and the culture that once thrived in Hattusa. As researchers continue to explore this ancient city, we can only anticipate more revelations that will shed further light on this enigmatic civilization.
Hattusa, with its UNESCO World Heritage status, continues to be a treasure trove of historical discoveries, offering a unique window into the ancient world. The deciphered hieroglyphs in the Yerkapı Tunnel are a testament to the ongoing importance of archaeological research in uncovering the secrets of our past.
