Middle Bronze Age city unearthed in Kinik Hoyuk, Türkiye

In the ongoing excavations at Kinik Hoyuk, located near Yesilyurt village in the Altunhisar district of Nigde, archaeologists have uncovered remnants of fortifications and a settlement dating back to the Middle Bronze Age city.

Associate professor Marina Pucci, an academic from the Department of History, Geography, Archaeology, and Art History at the University of Florence and the head of the excavation team, stated that the digs commenced approximately a month ago with a large team from four different universities.

This year, the team is excavating three distinct areas, focusing on Hellenistic, Iron Age, and Middle Bronze Age layers. Pucci highlighted that while the team has reached Iron Age layers in one area, they also uncovered Middle Bronze Age layers this year.

The findings include a fortification line and a related settlement, dating back to around 1800 B.C.

Pucci pointed out that other Middle Bronze Age settlements have been discovered at Acemi Hoyuk in Aksaray and Kultepe Kanish/Karum in Kayseri.

She explained: “Some of these sites functioned as small kingdoms that ruled their regions, potentially even maintaining connections with northern Syria. However, no Middle Bronze Age settlements had been identified in this area, which we refer to as the Bor Plain, stretching from the Taurus Mountains to Hasan Mountain and nearly reaching Aksaray. Therefore, the discovery of such a center at Kinik Hoyuk is significant for understanding the political and sociopolitical dynamics of the Middle Bronze Age in this region.”

Pucci described the site as a city, stating, “Of course, it had a lower city, with people living on the acropolis and others in nearby farmsteads and villages. While it cannot be termed a kingdom, it was a significant city settlement that dominated a portion of the Bor Plain.”

The excavations at Kinik Hoyuk have been ongoing for about 14 years, with the team aiming to understand how the settlement evolved.

Pucci also noted that Kinik Hoyuk was a vital administrative center during the Iron Age. “Following the collapse of the Hittite Empire, during the ‘Post-Hittite’ period, this area exhibited strong political authority, which we have also observed. As we move into the Hellenistic Achaemenid period, we are trying to comprehend the transformation of the acropolis into a sacred area, possibly a temple city. Through these efforts, we are attempting to reveal the character of the settlement in the Bor Plain region.”

The discovery of this Middle Bronze Age settlement and fortifications at Kinik Hoyuk offers valuable insights into the ancient political and sociopolitical dynamics of the Bor Plain. The ongoing excavations continue to shed light on the region’s rich history, emphasizing the site’s importance throughout various historical periods, including the Iron Age and Hellenistic Achaemenid period.