Palace from Hittite era discovered in Sivas

SİVAS - Anadolu Agency

The newly discovered palace, estimated to have been built in 1500 B.C., has been classified as a protected site by local authorities in Sivas.

A grand piece of Hittite legacy has been uncovered in Sivas’ Yıldızeli district, with a palace being the latest discovery at the “Kayalıpınar Excavation Site”. The palace, estimated to have been built in 1500 B.C., has been classified as a protected site by local authorities. Archeologists will further excavate the site immediately where the palace was discovered to reveal detail that could further shed light on the palace.

German-based Academic Vuslat Müller Karpe said this year the Kayalıpınar excavations ceased ended relatively quick as the team assigned to the excavation had completed all necessary excavation work. 

Noting that Kayalıpınar was home to four different civilizations in the past, Karpe said the palace has unearthed many artifacts from the Hittite era, found from among the 40-plus room palace.

“We have unearthed more than 100 pieces of military equipment in the palace’s storage area,” she said.

Tablets with Hittite script were also part of the discovery, Karpe added, with the tablets depicting prophecies, religious festivals as well as bird fortune-telling, among other scenes.

Karpe advised that the palace had been completely burned down once only to be reconstructed again, with the Hittite empire, ruling over most of the Anatolian Peninsula, disintegrating in 1178 B.C.