Hittite Research Articles

Drifting Southward? Tracing Aspects of Cultural Continuity and Change in the Late 2<sup>nd</sup> Millennium BC Syro-Anatolian Region

This article analyses continuity and changes in the material culture at the site of Arslantepe during the last centuries of the 2nd millennium BC. The mound, located in the Malatya province (SE Turkey), has a thousand-year history of occupation characterised by the interaction of different cultural influences. During the Late Bronze Age, the impact of the Hittite expansion could be seen in the use of typically central Anatolian artifacts. At the fall of the Hittite Empire, Arslantepe showed aspects of continuity with the Hittite tradition along with the emergence of new trends connected with the western bank of the Euphrates valley and the inner Syrian territories. After a historical and chronological introduction, this paper will present Early Iron Age material from Arslantepe and compare it with assemblages from key contemporary sites in the Euphrates and northern Levant areas, revealing aspects of both local identity and extra-regional contacts. A diachronic perspective will also allow us to integrate the Late Bronze Age material into the historical picture in order to understand transformations in the relationship pattern between the site and its neighbouring regions. The analysis will also be contextualised within a wider theoretical frame by identifying elements of continuity, transformation and change in the material culture and discussing how these were influenced by the development of cross-cultural relationships.

Mary R. Bachvarova, From Hittite to Homer. The Anatolian Background of Ancient Greek Epic

Specialiste des cultures de l’Anatolie et du Proche-Orient de l’Âge du Bronze, Mary B. Bachvarova (MBB) presente dans cet ouvrage le fruit de ses recherches sur l’origine anatolienne des epopees homeriques. Sa these, soigneusement illustree et solidement documentee, s’ouvre sur une chronologie de l’Âge du Bronze et une table d’equivalence entre les dieux du Proche-Orient et ceux du monde grec. Cet appareil documentaire est complete par deux cartes et le plan de la capitale hittite: Hattusa (l...

Soil erosion in relation to land-use changes in the sediments of Amik Lake near Antioch antique city during the last 4 kyr

The Amik Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean region occupied since 6000–7000 BC has sustained a highly variable anthropic pressure culminating during the late Roman Period when the Antioch city reached its golden age. The present 6-m-long sedimentary record of the Amik Lake occupying the central part of the Basin constrains major paleoenvironmental changes over the past 4000 years using multi-proxy analyses (grain size, magnetic susceptibility, and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) geochemistry). An age model is provided by combining short-lived radionuclides with radiocarbon dating. A lake/marsh prevailed during the last 4 kyr with a level increase at the beginning of the Roman Period possibly related to optimum climatic condition and water channeling. The Bronze/Iron Ages are characterized by a strong terrigenous input linked to deforestation, exploitation of mineral resources, and the beginning of upland cultivation. The Bronze/Iron Age transition marked by the collapse of the Hittite Empire is clearly documented. Erosion continued during the Roman Period and nearly stopped during the early Islamic Period in conjunction with a decreasing population and soil depletion on the calcareous highland. The soil-stripped limestone outcrops triggered an increase in CaO in the lake water and a general decrease in ZrO2 released in the landscape that lasts until the present day. During the Islamic Period, pastoralism on the highland sustained continued soil erosion of the ophiolitic Amanus Mountains. The Modern Period is characterized by a higher pressure particularly on the Amanus Mountains linked to deforestation, road construction, ore exploitation, and drying of the lake for agriculture practices.

Climate response of oak (Quercus spp.), an evidence of a bioclimatic boundary induced by the Carpathians

Tree-ring information and climate response data were applied to investigate the potential of the Carpathian Mountains to influence tree-growth patterns. Recent studies reveal the importance of constructing a dense spatial network of oak tree-ring chronologies in this area, which may be the key to linking the North Central European and East Mediterranean tree records. We establish sixteen oak (Quercus robur L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) site chronologies along a longitudinal gradient (from 22.47 to 26.58 E) in Northern Romania in an attempt to elucidate the impact of climate on oak growth. Even with differences generated by interspecific features, habitats and climatic regimes, a common macroclimatic marker for the NW and NE sites was established by comparing two groups of chronologies separated by the Carpathian chain. We found that precipitation in April (P4) and June (P6) were the primary climate factors that affected tree growth in the NW region. For the NE region, the temperature in January (T1) and March (T3) and precipitation in May (P5) were revealed to be the major limiting climatic factors. The spatial variability of the correlation coefficients indicates a decreasing trend in correlation intensity with precipitation from NW to NE, particularly during the current growing season (March–July). Oak trees from the NW and NE regions have adapted to different local climatic conditions and only respond uniformly to severe climate events (e.g., the 1904 drought). The higher occurrence of extreme years during the 20th century, particularly in the NE region, was in accordance with the rise of precipitation variability in the current growing season. The changes in the tree-growth pattern and climatic response of the chronologies of the studied sites in the NW and NE regions were linked to the local climates induced by the Carpathian Mountains.

A Late Bronze Age Ship from Liman Tepe with Reference to the Late Bronze Age Ships from İZMIR / Bademgediği Tepesi and Kos / Seraglio

Summary In this article, a Mycenaean pottery sherd from Liman Tepe is discussed. The piece, which was locally produced, probably belongs to a ring-based crater (FS 281). Comparisons with other, similar sherds suggest that warriors aboard a ship are depicted. As one of the few examples of its period decorated in this way, the sherd has been dated to the early or middle phase of LH III C, belonging to the period after the collapse of the Hittite Empire in Anatolia and the Mycenaean kingdoms in mainland Greece. The depictions on this sherd are highly significant, as they contribute to the corpus of evidence for migrations from the western to the eastern Mediterranean and the unrest which characterized the period.

The Treatment of Troublesome Regions

It is quite clear that after the Old Hittite Kingdom had been established, the Hittites focused their attention on gaining control of Syria. At the same time, they also tried to expand to western Anatolia but soon learned that too great an involvement in the west left them vulnerable to attacks. From that time on, the kings of Hatti sought to keep their military involvement in western Anatolia to a minimum, while thwarting the emergence of any hostile coalitions there.I find this subject fascinating—namely, how an empire that was founded on an ideology of expansion came to realize its natural boundaries and adjusted its ideology and practical strategy to extricate itself from a problematic region that could not be annexed or conquered. This specific case has been discussed only in part by Bryce (1986), so I decided to research it again in my dissertation.

Parallel Hurrian and Hittite šumma izbu Omens from Hattuša and Corresponding Akkadian Omens

AbstractThis article discusses the remains of the

The Shadows of a Distant Past

AbstractThe historical Introductions to the Hittite State Treaties usually portray a relatively recent history. Two compositions pertain, however, to depict a more distant past, going back all the way to the founders of the Old Hittite Kingdom. The two, the historical introduction to the treaty with Wiluša (CTH 76) and especially the historical introduction of the Aleppo Treaty (CTH 75) are the subject of this study. It is certainly not a coincidence that both historical excursions into the distant past, pose many historical problems and give rise to incredulity regarding their historicity. It will be suggested that by reviewing the historical sources available to the ancient author, one may better understand how he came to assert certain historical statements that seem exaggerated or false to the modern historian. This approach may shed new light on some of the historical riddles posed by the introduction to the Talmi-Šarruma treaty, suggesting that its problematic narrative may have resulted from its ancient author’s unsuccessful attempt to weave several stories into one coherent historical account. It will also reveal the profound historical consciousness of the ancient author of CTH 75, his knowledgeability of ancient texts, such as the Old Hittite political wisdom literature, and his didactic use of history.

The introduction of Hurrian religion into the Hittite empire

AbstractThe early Hittite New Kingdom was a period of great change. It was during this period that both a remarkable amount of Hurrian textual material entered into the Hittite capital and Hittite kings began having both Hittite and Hurrian names. In this paper I argue that the importation of Hurrian cultural material accompanied the dynastic marriage between the Hittite king and the king of Kizzuwatna. The reception of the material and its lasting effects within the ruling family are to be attributed to the education of the princes within a royal household headed by Hurrian queens.

Traces of "Weaving" in Hittite: A Brief Overview

Traces of "Weaving" in Hittite: A Brief Overview

The Coming of Iron in a Comparative Perspective

The paper deals with the introduction of iron as a new raw material in the transition period between the outgoing Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. Objective of the paper is to introduce the interdisciplinary research group A5: Iron as a new raw material of the Excellence Cluster Topoi. The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations . After a short overview of the history of the spread of iron technology after the decline of the Hittite empire, the central research categories of the group: space, knowledge, innovation and resource are introduced. The interdisciplinary composition of the group enables the integration of different methodological approaches from the archaeological sciences, ancient oriental studies and physical geography. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal potentials and limitations of the single disciplinary methodological approaches are discussed and a brief overview of the regions under investigation is given. The introduction of iron as a new raw material is in detail presented in the light of two case study regions: the Ancient Orient and the Teltow region.

Hittite yaya(i)-i

Abstract It is argued that Hittite yaya(i)-i ‘to expectorate’ may be derived from PIE *hxi̯eh1- ‘to throw, to send forth’; possible relationship of the Hittite stem with Greek perfect ἕωκα, mid. ἕωμαι is discussed.

Introduction: Scholarship and Inquiry in the Ancient Near East

Abstract This essay introduces a four-essay issue of the journal on the subject of scholarship, knowledge arts, and scribal epistemology in the ancient cuneiform cultures of Sumer, Assyro-Babylonia, Ugarit, and the Hittite empire.

MÖ 2. BİN YIL BAZI GELENEK VE HALK MOTİFLERİNİN GÜNÜMÜZE YANSIYAN ÖRNEKLERİ

We come face to face with the traces of Anatolia’s thousands years old rich past in many public lores which are still used in today’s life. Anatolia that holds a lot of ethnic and folkloristic elements in its structure became a geography of combining and interlocking of various cultures with its inclusive nature rather than dismissive and discriminating geography and enabled the development of the core of the cultures which it inhabits without losing them. With the help of kings’ grave tombs which belong to Hattians who created a great civilization with in the upper Halys bend in 3rd Millennium BC, we learn about the period’s ore technology and social life. These graves provide us with detailed information about the religous life of the period at the same time. The Hittites who were Hindo – European clan started to settle slowly to the Hattian geography from the beginning of 2nd Millennium BC and established the first central government in Anatolia by dominating the area. But the name of the geography they settled did not change. Even till the end of Hittite kingdom, Hittite kings continued to call themselves Hatti kings and their country as Hatti country. Great Hatti civilization affected a great deal of the religous life of Hittite country. In this study we try to comparatively study some public beliefs which reach to today’s Anatolian life through Hittites from Hattioans who were an asiatic tribe with the similiar applications in Turkish world.

Modeling Hurricane Exposure in a Caribbean Lower Montane Tropical Wet Forest: The Effects of Frequent, Intermediate Disturbances and Topography on Forest Structural Dynamics and Composition

Frequent intermediate disturbances can produce qualitatively different spatial heterogeneity and environmental variability than large infrequent disturbances, which facilitates the coexistence of disparate species types. We hypothesized that species coexistence will be maximized at sites exposed to recurring hurricanes with intermediate frequencies and effects. Consequently, we sought to determine if exposure vulnerability (EV) from three hurricanes with intermediate effects and frequencies (Ivan-2004, Dennis-2005 and Dean-2007), or the interaction between exposure and topography, could be used to explain forest structural dynamics and composition. We used data obtained in 2006 and 2012 from within 45, 25 × 25 m (2.8125 ha) permanent sample plots, established according to a randomized block design, and stratified according to elevation and aspect/sites (NE and SW facing ridges) in a tropical montane wet forest, John Crow Mountains, Jamaica. There was a significant reduction in basal area (BA) (14%), tree volume (10%), and density (26%) and there was a negative shift in the height profile of trees. Understory light (2008), stem density, and mortality increased with EV but decreased with aspect. The NE aspect/sites had higher EV after Dean and the other hurricanes. Consequently, BA, volume and density increased significantly for light-demanding species at the NE sites, but declined significantly overall with minimal changes at SW sites. Moreover, diversity was significantly higher at sites with higher EV for the three hurricanes. The frequent hurricanes with intermediate effects may have therefore maintained/increased spatial heterogeneity, which promoted the coexistence of species with disparate life histories at more exposed sites.

Comment on "Structural dynamics of cisplatin binding to histidine in a protein" [Struct. Dyn. 1, 034701 (2014)

Comment on "Structural dynamics of cisplatin binding to histidine in a protein" [Struct. Dyn. 1, 034701 (2014)

Geochemical Analysis of the Hittite‐Period Pottery from Tarsus‐Gözlükule, Turkey

Neutron activation analysis was conducted on Late Bronze IIA pottery from Tarsus‐Gözlükule and compared with archival data from contemporary sites in Cilicia and Cyprus. The results provide a model for the organization of pottery production at Tarsus‐Gözlükule when the settlement was under the rule of the Hittite Empire. It is proposed that multiple contemporary pottery workshops provided the community of Tarsus‐Gözlükule with both Hittite‐style pottery and other wares. It is further suggested that these workshops may have differed in the extent to which they were attached to the imperial administration.

On Recent Cuneiform Editions of Hittite Fragments (III)


 
 
 Remarks on the reading and interpretation of recently published cuneiform frag- ments from the Hittite capital Boğazköy/Ḫattuša.
 
 

THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER REGION OF THE HITTITE STATE

Tegarama was one of the eastern lands of the Hittite Kingdom. In the geographic sense it is part of the Armenian Highland that is why its history is of special interest to us. Taking into account the fact that the Armenian people had considerable ethnic ties with the Upper Euphrates region, specialists have traditionally tended to identify “Home of Torgom” in the Trans Euphrates region together with the city Tegarama (Assyrian Til-Garimmu) mentioned from the 2nd millennium BC. “Home of Torgom” literally repeats Bet-Togarma mentioned in the Bible. The study of the history of the country of Tegarama is also important because in Armenian historiography, starting from Movses Khorenatsi, Armenian ancestor Hayk is called “Son of Torgom”, and the Armenian people - “People of Torgom”. Most of the researchers located Tegarama in the place of the present settlement Gyurun. By comparing the “Cappadocian”, Hittite and Assyrian sources, Tegarama can be located in the Upper Euphrates valley, on the right bank of the river, to the north of Kargamis, to the west of Isuwa, to the south of Upper Land and to the east of Kanes. The territory of Tegarama was not far from Nesa - one of the initial centers of the Hittites; and it was also one of the initial places of inhabitance of the Hittites. Tegarama also occupied a strategically important position. On the one hand it bordered on the country of Mitanni, on the other hand - on Isuwa. Thus, the country of Tegarama occupied a significant geographic position: on the one hand roads led from here to other western districts of the Armenian Highland, to Tsopk, and on the other hand - to Northern Syria and Northern Mesopotamia. It was also one of the spiritual centers of Hatti.

Haluk Perk Müzesi’ndeki iki Hitit mührü

This article attempts to read the inscriptions on two seals from Haluk Perk's Collection and to discuss their date. The reading of the name of the owner of the first seal, written in Cuneiform Luwian, is: BONUS2FEMINA REL-na “Good Woman Kwanna/Kwinna”. This seal should be dated to the Hittite Empire periods. The second seal is probably to be dated to Early Old Hittite period by comparison with similar seal-types, for example from Bogazkoy