3,200-Year-Old Hittite Sculpture Workshop in Yozgat Damaged by Looters

A 3,200-year-old Hittite sculpture workshop in Karakız, a village in Sorgun district of Yozgat, Türkiye, is being ravaged by illegal excavations. A basalt lion statue—one of the few surviving examples of Hittite stonework in the region—has been severely damaged by treasure hunters, raising urgent calls for protection.

Archaeologists have identified the site as a rare Hittite workshop, where stone artisans once carved monumental figures that symbolized royal power and divine protection. Today, the surviving lion stands exposed in a forested area, serving as an “open-air museum” but also leaving it vulnerable to destruction.

---

Hittite Stone Workshops: A Legacy of Power and Art

The Hittites, one of the great powers of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1600–1200 BC), were renowned for their mastery of stone carving. Basalt and andesite were commonly used to produce monumental lions, sphinxes, and warrior figures. These sculptures were not mere decorations—they embodied political authority and religious symbolism.

The most famous examples are the Lion Gate of Hattusa, the Hittite capital, and the Sphinx Gate at Alacahöyük. Both demonstrate the extraordinary craftsmanship of Hittite stonemasons. Experts believe that the Yozgat Karakız workshop represents part of this broader imperial tradition, extending the reach of Hittite art into provincial centers.

---

“Our Village is Like a Museum, But Unprotected”

Nazım Gedik, headman of Karakız, emphasized the need for urgent preservation:

“There are two lion rocks, one here in the village and another in the mountains. Archaeologists confirmed this was a Hittite workshop dating back 3,200 years. But treasure hunters are destroying it. Our village is like a museum, yet there is no protection. These monuments should be preserved and opened to tourists for the benefit of the region.”

---

Looters Leave Scars on History

According to Gedik, the basalt lion was once intact, but looters dug beneath it, causing it to collapse and roll down the slope. Illegal excavations now scar the hillsides, leaving behind dangerous pits where grazing animals often fall. “If this continues, the lion will be lost forever,” Gedik warned.

---

The Symbolism of the Lion in Hittite Culture

Lions in Hittite art symbolized strength, royal authority, and divine guardianship. They were placed at city gates, palace entrances, and sanctuaries to project the power of the king and the protection of the gods. The Karakız lion links this universal imperial motif with the local landscape of Yozgat, proving that the Hittite vision extended deep into Anatolia.

---

Archaeologists Call for Protection

Scholars stress that the Karakız site represents one of the few known provincial Hittite sculpture workshops and must be urgently safeguarded. Without official protection, both the historical value and the cultural tourism potential of the region could be permanently lost.

Cover Photo: The 3,200-year-old basalt lion from a Hittite sculpture workshop in Karakız, Yozgat, has been severely damaged by looters. Credit: IHA