Yazılıkaya Archaeological Site

Address: Yazılıkaya (open‑air sanctuary), near Boğazkale (ancient Hattusa), Çorum Province, Turkey

Yazılıkaya is an open-air Hittite rock sanctuary northeast of the ancient capital Hattusa in Çorum Province, Turkey, notable for its large carved rock reliefs. It dates to the late Bronze Age and is closely associated with Hittite religious practices.

The site consists of two carved rock chambers that preserve reliefs of gods, goddesses and royal personages arranged in processional and ritual scenes. Chamber A contains the better-known procession of deities, while Chamber B preserves additional figures and motifs linked to Hittite cult activity.

Yazılıkaya served as a cultic and ceremonial sanctuary for the Hittite kingdom during the height of Hittite power in the second millennium BC; the reliefs are usually dated to around the 13th century BC. The site functioned in close relation to the capital Hattusa and its ritual landscape.

The sanctuary lies just outside the archaeological remains of Hattusa, near the modern village of Boğazkale in Çorum Province, central Anatolia, and is part of the Hattusa UNESCO World Heritage area.

• Date and layout: The sanctuary contains two open rock chambers with extensive Hittite reliefs dating to the late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BC.
• Proximity to Hattusa: Situated immediately adjacent to the Hittite capital Hattusa, the site is part of the broader Hattusa archaeological complex that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

What to See#

• Chamber A: Chamber A is the larger open-air rock chamber featuring a long procession of carved deities and royal figures arranged along the rock walls.
• Chamber B: Chamber B is smaller and contains additional carved figures and reliefs, often interpreted as related cultic or seasonal rites.

Yazılıkaya is the rock‑cut Hittite sanctuary next to the Hattusa archaeological site near the village of Boğazkale. From Boğazkale village the site is a short drive or about a 20-30 minute walk (roughly 1.5-2 km) along the local access road to the Hattusa/Yazılıkaya site. Boğazkale itself is reached by road from the provincial centre (Çorum) - roughly on the order of 80-100 km by car to the Boğazkale area.

• Go at first light or late afternoon so the oblique sunlight brings out the depth of the Hittite reliefs-midday wash can make the carvings hard to read.
• Combine Yazılıkaya with a visit to nearby Hattusa (the Hittite capital); the sanctuary is part of the same archaeological itinerary and is best seen on the same ticket day.
• Allow time for the short uphill walk from the Hattusa parking/ticket area and follow the marked path: many visitors miss smaller side chambers and reliefs beyond the main gallery.