Zur Wasserversorgung und Wassernutzungin der Unterstadt von Hattuša

Abstract

In investigations into the water supply in the Hittite capital of Hattuša, only structures in the Upper City and the surrounding landscape have been identifi ed so far. This contribution discusses the question of how water could have been stored in the area of the Lower City. There, at the lowest lying point of the fortified urban zone, a hollow is situated between thick earth walls; the hollow has received little attention, although it has once been proposed as the burial place of Hittite kings. A drill probe investigation in 2002 provided evidence that a water reservoir probably always lay there. On the basis of these findings we discuss various aspects of the water supply in the Lower City of Hattuša.