The Kültepe archaeological site is situated 20 km northeast of Kayseri, at the base of Mount Erciyes (Ashkashipa or Argeus), in the midst of a fertile plain. The city is strategically located at the intersection of historical and natural highways running from east to west and from south to north. This advantageous location made it a significant hub for trade and culture between Anatolia, Syria, and Mesopotamia in ancient times. The city's name during the second millennium BC, when it was the centre of the Kanish Kingdom and the chief city of the Assyrian Trade Colonies system in Anatolia, was Kanish or Neşa, as documented from that period. The name Kültepe has been used since 1871, when the cuneiform documents known as 'Cappadocian tablets' first appeared in museums and antiquities markets worldwide. Since 1948, Kültepe has been one of the most significant centres of Anatolian and world archaeology, with tens of thousands of archaeological and philological artefacts discovered during excavations.
KÜLTEPE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
