Hitit Köprüsü (Hittite Bridge)

İskilip Historic Buildings October 2010

The Hitit Köprüsü (Hittite Bridge) is a historic engineering relic located in the Çorum region and regarded as one of the earliest bridge structures in Anatolia. The structure was first discovered by Prof. Dr. N. Naumann and dated to the 13th century BC, the Hittite period. This dating places the bridge among the oldest examples considered to herald arched bridge architecture in Anatolia.

History

The bridge dates to a period coinciding with the Hittite Imperial Age. The 13th century BC was the era in which the Hittite State, centered at Hattuşa, established a strong central administration, a developed road network, and a tradition of monumental construction in Central Anatolia. During this age the Hittites produced many engineering works, such as temples, rock monuments, fortification systems, and water structures. The bridge is regarded as a part of this construction culture and is described as the “first bridge attempt in Anatolia.” The region’s traces from the Hittite period form a more meaningful whole when considered together with the major settlements and cult centers in the surrounding area.

Architecture

The bridge was built over a precipice 8.50 m wide and 14 m deep, at the location known as Ambarlıkaya. In the structure, which was constructed by making use of natural rock masses, details that shed light on the stonework of its era have survived to the present day. Among these, the mortise holes that allowed the stone blocks to be joined to one another, and the wide steps that eased the crossing, draw particular attention. These elements are important in that they show the bridge was not built haphazardly, but with a certain degree of planning and technical knowledge.

Significance

Being remembered as one of Anatolia’s first bridge attempts makes the structure noteworthy not only locally but also on a national scale. The bridge stands as a concrete document reflecting the Hittite period’s engineering understanding of transportation, water crossing, and land use. In this respect, together with the other Hittite-period centers in the region, it is an element that completes the ancient heritage of Central Anatolia.

Related places

For those who wish to grasp the region’s Hittite-period heritage in its entirety, the major Hittite centers around Çorum stand out: the empire’s capital Hattuşaş, the cult center Şapinuva, Alacahöyük, and the Hüseyindede Early Hittite Cult Center are among the foremost stops belonging to this period. To get to know the district in which it is located more closely, the History of İskilip article may also be examined.

ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.