Kültepe, Archaeological tell in Kayseri Province, Turkey
Kültepe is an archaeological tell in Kayseri Province consisting of a central mound and a lower settlement area. The excavations reveal the remains of dwellings, workshops, and storage buildings that were built over thousands of years.
The site was founded during the Bronze Age and served as a major trading center at that time. Over centuries, the settlement experienced several destructions and rebuilds before eventually being abandoned.
The site served as a major trading hub where merchants from different regions gathered and exchanged goods. Visitors can still see traces of this busy past in the excavated warehouses and residential quarters that reveal how people lived and conducted business.
The site is accessible from a visitor center that provides basic information and sometimes offers guided tours. It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes and allow enough time to explore the different areas of the excavations.
One of the site's most valuable legacies is thousands of clay tablets bearing cuneiform writing that were accidentally baked by ancient fires and preserved from decay. These documents provide us with deep insights into daily life, commerce, and relationships between people in that distant past.
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