Konya Karahoyuk

The scientific works in Karahöyük have been started on September 17th 1953, under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Sedat Alp, with the cooperation of TTK, Ankara University, Mid Anatolia Research Station and Museums General Directorate. The excavations have been interrupted in 1959 and 1967 - 1970 and re - started thereafter.

Karahöyük has been an important crossroads where north - south and east - west roads intersect in the history, as it is today. In Hittite Empire Period, Konya region was connected to the culture of Huuassana, the goddess of Hupisna (Ereğli "Kybistra") and included in Luvi language group.

The finds obtained in Karahöyük until today provide information relating to the cultural and commercial relationships of the period to which they belong. It is the most important center of seal art before the Hittite Empire Period in the southern part of Mid Anatolia. Graffito, pot trademarks and some seals provide aid in the research of early stages of writing in Anatolia. Among other finds, there are beak - mouthed water jugs, cups, clover - mouthed water jugs, rhytons, grape cluster shaped pots. Horse shoe shaped, stamped altars, stoves and half moon shaped lintels are characteristic works of their periods.

As the result of the researches, 27 building floors have been determined in Karahöyük and the main soil has been found at a depth of 29.10 m at the section named as C hallow. There is a silt layer of 1.5 m thickness on this main soil and the culture layers are in this silt layer.

Layering

1 - 111 Layers: have provided materials belonging to the first quarter of 2nd thousand BC. The stamp seals found in the 1st floor belong to the last phase of Period of Colonies.

IV.XI layers: Ceramics called as intermediate have been obtained. These ceramics have been found intensely in Vth and VIth layers.

XII. XXII. Layers: These layers provide ceramics of the type seen in the mid and last phases of Troia 1, which are called as "Early Aegean Ceramic" by Blegen.

XXII. XXVII Layers: Although they provide finds belonging to more ancient times than Troia 1 civilization, the characteristic works of Calcolithic Period have not been met.

In accordance with these data, Karahöyük has culture layers following each other without interruption and belonging to Early and Mid Bronze Periods. The materials obtained show that Karahöyük has been in cultural and commercial relationship with Kızılırmak region, especially Kültepe Cappadoccia Region, Alişar, Boğazköy, Acemköy, Gordion, Troia, Karataş Semahöyük, Tarsus, Tell - Açana, Cyprus, Syria, Mesopotamia and Miken residence centers. It has been claimed that at the beginning of 2nd thousand BC, there could be a Hittite ethnic group that mixed with Luvi people under the impact of Hittites in Karahöyük.

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