Hattusa’s Lion Gate
Extensive excavations in Turkey uncovered the capital of the forgotten Hittite Empire, whose power once rivaled ancient Egypt before mysteriously collapsing. Archaeological work began in 1906 at the 3,600-year-old site spanning 1.8 square kilometers. The ruins contain sphinx statues and an archive of 30,000 cuneiform tablets recording laws and diplomatic treaties. The city’s fall around 1200 BC coincided with the broader Bronze Age collapse that affected multiple civilizations across the region.
