A new Hittite city: Kuşaklı – Sarissa

Between 1800 and 1200 B.C. the core of the central Anatolian Hittite Empire was ruled by a monarchy from the central kingdom over the dependent vassal kingdoms. Sarissa was one of the Hittite cities, which had an important place as an administrative centre. The city was established in the second half of the sixteenth century B.C. on areas which had until then been uninhabited. The plan of the new city was drawn up before construction began and construction in the city adhered to the city plan. There are no known earlier examples of this practice for a Hittite city, and this is a distinctive feature of the planned city of Kuşaklı-Sarissa. The casemated oval city wall is similar to other Hittite city wall systems. Within the city has been determined that the majority of structures date from the Hittite Imperial Period, the religious and the official structures and the public housing. Rooms attached to the religious structure during the period and appearing with three wings on the city's western slope provide an important contribution to the city's architecture, marking the emergence of a new form of housing. The archaeological finds from the city and in particular, the fragments of cuneiform tablets, have provided us with evidence of the political history of the city, and important information concerning its religious and social structures. A beer production workshop was found in situ with its ceramics, and the storage containers employed in the production of beer in the city, which is both an important find and important for the identification of the use of related ceramic finds elsewhere. In conclusion, from its foundation and with the evidence provided by its various finds, the Hittite city of Kuşaklı-Sarissa city provides both an important contribution to Hittite history and culture and distinctive finds that can provide comparative material for finds from other Hittite cities. KEYWORDS: Hittite History, Kuşaklı-Sarissa, City Planning, Architecture, Pottery