Echoes of Alaca Höyük
An academic exploration into the enigmatic cult instruments from the Anatolian Bronze Age.
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Discovery
Princely Tombs Unearthed
Between 1935 and 1939, Turkish archaeologists Hamit Zübeyir Koşay and Remzi Oğuz Arık conducted significant excavations at the site of Alaca Höyük, located near Alaca in the Çorum Province of Turkey. Their meticulous work led to the uncovering of fourteen tombs dating to the Early Bronze Age. These burial sites became known as the "Princely tombs" or "Kingly tombs" due to the richness of their contents.
Abundant Funerary Assemblages
Within these tombs, a remarkable array of grave offerings was discovered, often placed individually or in pairs alongside the interred individuals. Among these significant finds were more than twenty distinct bronze standards, objects that would later become central to understanding the material culture and ritual practices of the period.
Artifact Description
Individual Animal Representations
Archaeologist Winfried Orthmann categorized the standards into distinct groups. One primary category comprises individual animal figures. These are predominantly stylized representations of deer and bulls. The animals stand on four supports that converge at a single point, suggesting they were designed to be affixed to a perishable wooden pole. The deer are characterized by expansive antlers, while the bulls feature long, curved horns. The bodies are highly stylized, with some examples incorporating silver inlay, and highlights of silver or gold leaf adorning the antlers and noses.
Disc and Ring Standards
The second major group consists of standards shaped as discs or rings, which may or may not feature animal imagery. These vary in form, appearing as round, half-circular, or lozenge shapes. Several examples incorporate a central grill pattern, surrounded by decorative bands adorned with projections resembling birds, flowers, or rays of the sun. Many of these also depict animals, often mirroring the types seen in the individual animal standards, such as deer and bulls. However, these standards sometimes feature animals in composite arrangements, like a deer flanked by two bulls, or two lions/panthers positioned opposite a central deer.
Structural Elements
The disc and ring-shaped standards typically feature a pair of horns projecting outward and upward from the bottom. A crossbar with two pegs is also present, likely serving as the attachment point to the pole. This structural design further supports the hypothesis that these objects were mounted on poles, possibly as part of a larger apparatus.
Scholarly Interpretation
Ritual Function Hypothesis
The prevailing interpretation posits that these bronze standards served as cult instruments, likely intended for attachment to carts or wagons. The excavators, Koşay and Arık, strongly advocated for a clear ritualistic role. The presence of sun ray decorations on some standards has led to their frequent designation as "Sun discs," with the rings being interpreted as symbolic representations of the heavens. This cosmological interpretation has been supported by scholars such as Kurt Bittel.
Wagon Standard Theory
A prominent theory, developed by Seton Lloyd and James Mellaart and further elaborated by Orthmann, suggests these standards were integral components of wagons buried with the deceased. According to this hypothesis, the standards would have been positioned on the drawbar, potentially near the yoke. The term "standard" itself originates from this theory. Supporting evidence includes similar wagon standards found in Mesopotamia (Ur, Kish) and the Bronze Age kurgans of Armenia, where rings for reins have been discovered. Orthmann connects these to the Alaca Höyük standards, further citing the presence of paired bull skulls and foot bones in the graves, arranged in a manner suggestive of a yoked pair.
Sistrum Analogy
An alternative interpretation was proposed by Tahsin Özgüç for similar finds at Horoztepe. He interpreted those artifacts as sistrums, ancient musical instruments, based on the presence of moving parts within their construction. While not directly applied to the Alaca Höyük standards, this highlights the diverse functional possibilities considered for such complex artifacts.
Chronological Context
Pre-Assyrian Period
Based on the pottery typology found within the princely graves, archaeologist Karl Bittel has dated the Alaca Höyük bronze standards to a period preceding the establishment of the Assyrian trading colonies in Asia Minor, which commenced around 1900 BC. This places the artifacts firmly in the Early Bronze Age.
Hattian and Early Hittite Era
Bittel also drew parallels between the metal objects from Alaca Höyük and those discovered at Troy II, which are dated to approximately 2100 BC. Considering the stylistic evolution of the grave goods and the stratification of the burials, it is inferred that the cemetery served a continuous function for an extended duration, potentially spanning over two centuries. This period, roughly between the 22nd and 20th centuries BC, corresponds to the era of the Hattians, preceding the ascendancy of the Hittite Empire.
Cultural Significance & Legacy
Symbolic Representation
The distinctive form of the Alaca Höyük bronze standards has transcended their archaeological context to become a potent symbol of Anatolian heritage. In a stylized manner, these ancient artifacts have been adopted as logos by various organizations, including the University of Ankara, the municipality of Ankara, and the provincial administration of Çorum. This widespread use underscores their enduring cultural resonance.
Public Display and Preservation
A monumental reproduction of one of the prominent standards stands as a landmark in Sıhhiye Square in Ankara, serving as a constant reminder of the region's rich past. The original artifacts are primarily housed and displayed at the esteemed Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Additionally, some pieces are preserved in the local museum within Alaca Höyük itself. Replicas of the graves and the standards are also accessible to the public at the Çorum Archaeological Museum, offering visitors a tangible connection to this significant historical period.
Scholarly Works
Key Publications
The study and interpretation of the Alaca Höyük bronze standards have been informed by significant scholarly contributions. The following works represent key references in the field:
- Orthmann, Winfried. "Zu den Standarten aus Alaca Hüyük." *Istanbuler Mitteilungen* 17 (1967): 34–54.
- Bittel, Kurt. *Die Hethiter – Die Kunst Anatoliens vom Ende des 3. bis Anfang des 2. Jahrtausends vor Christus*. C. H. Beck, 1976. ISBN 3 406 03024 6. (Pages 30–48)
- Börker-Klähn, Jutta, and Ute Krafzik. "Zur Bedeutung der Aufsätze aus Alaca Hüyük." *Die Welt des Orients* 17 (1986): 47–60.
Related Topics
Hittite Art
Explore the broader artistic traditions of the Hittite civilization, of which the Alaca Höyük standards are an important precursor or contemporary artifact.
Learn MoreLuristan Bronzes
Investigate the related corpus of Luristan bronzes, known for their distinctive metalwork and often ritualistic significance from a neighboring region.
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