Tatarlı Höyük South Acropolis
Tatarli South Acropolis · Ceyhan South Mound
Late Chalcolithic to Hellenistic (3500 BCE–100 BCE)·Chalcolithic Cilician → Hittite → Neo-Hittite → Hellenistic·🇹🇷 Adana Province, Ceyhan District, Cilicia Plain, Ceyhan River, Turkey
About
About Tatarlı Höyük South Acropolis
Tatarlı Höyük South Acropolis is the southern citadel mound of Tatarlı Höyük on the Cilician plain west of the Ceyhan River — controlling the Kizzuwatna–Assyria (Qode) route. Girginer's south acropolis exposes a Hittite governor's citadel with Luwian hieroglyphic sealing of Kuwalanamuwa, a burnt destruction (1200 BCE) with Sea Peoples pottery, and a Hellenistic towered lower town linking Tatarlı to Tarsus–Sirkeli. The south acropolis's Hittite–Neo-Hittite continuity tracks Cilician political oscillation between Hatti and Que (Qode), bridging Tarsus Gözlükule to Hittite Levant.
Why it mattersKizzuwatna–Que south acropolis — Hittite governor sealing with 1200 BCE Sea Peoples horizon Cilicia
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01South acropolis as governor's citadel or temple?
- 021200 BCE destruction — Sea Peoples or Kaska?
Theories
- 01Girginer Cilicia Kizzuwatna buffer Tatarlı south acropolis
- 02Cilician Gates route control Tatarlı–Sirkeli–Kinet
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3500 BCE Late Chalcolithic; Hittite citadel 1500 BCE; Hellenistic lower town 300 BCE
- Period
- Late Chalcolithic to Hellenistic (3500 BCE–100 BCE)
- Culture
- Chalcolithic Cilician → Hittite → Neo-Hittite → Hellenistic
- Builders
- Cilician villagers, Hittite governor Kuwalanamuwa, Hellenistic city planners
- Purpose
- South acropolis of Tatarlı Höyük — citadel mound south of main tell on Cilician plain controlling Ceyhan crossing and Kizzuwatna–Qode route
- Abandoned
- c.100 BCE Roman reorientation to Misis
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 2007–present Girginer (Çukurova Univ.)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
2007
Girginer opens south acropolis, Hittite Kuwalanamuwa sealing found
2012
1200 BCE Sea Peoples destruction horizon published
2019
Hellenistic towered lower town mapping published
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0800° N · 35.9200° E · 35 m · 3 mapped features
Hittite Governor's Citadel (Kuwalanamuwa)
citadelHittite ashlar citadel with Luwian sealing Kuwalanamuwa 1400 BCE south acropolis
37.0808° N · 35.9206° E1200 BCE Burnt Destruction (Sea Peoples)
destruction layerBurnt horizon with Mycenaean–Sea Peoples pottery sealing Hittite levels
37.0793° N · 35.9191° EHellenistic Towered Lower Town
urbanHellenistic ashlar towers lower town 300 BCE, Que to Roman transition
37.0811° N · 35.9207° E