Stages of urban development in Samuha. An Anatolian "Holy City" in the 2nd millennium BC.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Müller-Karpe
• Subject Area: Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 406025871

The discovery of a Hittite cuneiform archive in Kayalıpınar in 2014/15 enabled the localization of one of the most important cities of this era: Samuha. Great King Hattusili III called it the "City of God", but it also served as a royal residence temporarily and was previously a base of Assyrian merchants. The different stages of these urban developments will be investigated by archaeological excavations. The focus is especially the heyday of the city during the 14./13. Century BC. The project is subdivided into four topics: 1. The spatial development of the city; 2. The development of the infrastructure of the city; 3. The development of the administrative center of the city; 4. The development as a "city of God". Different time slices are to be examined exemplarily and compared with one another in order to recognize changes. This should contribute to a better understanding of urban processes in early advanced Civilization.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants