Sarissa Ancient City is one of the important Hittite period settlements located in the Altınyayla district of Sivas, known for the tablets and the Twin Bull Rhyton statue found during excavations.
Sarissa is located in the Akkuzulu hamlet of Başören village, Altınyayla district, which is part of Sivas. Locals had known this place as Kuşaklı much earlier; the reason is simple, the walls surrounding the city. Its name was understood to be Sarissa only after the decipherment of a hieroglyphic inscription on a ceramic piece found during excavations. The same name appears in eight different places in the tablets found in the settlement.
Between 1500-1400 BC, Hittite kings came here from the capital Boğazköy to continue their summer work. Sarissa holds an important place as the fifth center in Anatolia where tablets were found. Some of the 52 tablets found during excavations are intact, some are in fragments; their contents show that three are related to festival ceremonies, twelve to cult inventories, and the rest to divination texts. One text mentions festivities held on Mount Kupit, and these lines also provide small clues about the geography of the period.
The most striking find unearthed in the city to date is the Twin Bull Rhyton statue. One of the two bulls standing side by side symbolizes good (Hurri), and the other evil (Sherri); it is believed that they pulled the chariot of the Storm God and even witnessed the Kadesh Treaty, considered the first written agreement in history. During your visit, you will encounter a large excavation area and traces of walls; it is not as crowded as Boğazköy or Alacahöyük but offers a concrete cross-section of the Hittite period.
Related discoveries: Historical Places, Sivas historical places, Divriği Grand Mosque and Hospital.
Guide's Note
Best Time to Visit
Altınyayla district is in a high-altitude region and can be closed by snow in winter. The period from late April to October is safer in terms of road and site conditions. Mid-summer midday heat can make walking in the open area tiring, so morning or late afternoon hours are more comfortable.
How to Get There
From Sivas city center, Altınyayla is reached by road; the distance varies between 60-82 km according to sources. From Altınyayla, you proceed to Başören village, and from there to Akkuzulu hamlet. A private car is the most practical option; public transportation is not frequent. Road signs may be missing at some points, so saving the location beforehand is helpful.
How Much Time to Allocate
The ancient city alone can be explored in 1-1.5 hours. Considering the travel distance, it makes sense to combine the day with other points around Altınyayla, such as Suppitassu King's Lake. It is possible to go from Sivas city center and return on the same day, but you need to leave early.
Suggested Itinerary
A reasonable plan is to leave Sivas city center in the morning, visit Sarissa first, and then stop by Altınyayla district center in the afternoon before returning. Those who come specifically to the region can also add Suppitassu King's Lake to their itinerary on the same day; both are within the same district boundaries.
Things to Pay Attention To
The excavation site is not a structured museum environment; it is explored under open field conditions. Comfortable shoes are essential. There are no services like shade or a cafeteria in the area, so you need to bring your own water and food. Getting up-to-date information from local authorities before visiting is useful, especially during periods when excavation work is ongoing.
Historical Significance of the City
Sarissa stands out as one of the settlements outside the Hittite capital Boğazköy that kings regularly visited. The unearthed tablets provide concrete evidence of the city's religious and administrative functions; this makes it one of the few centers in Anatolia with tablet finds.
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