A farmer plowing his field in the village of Çitli, located in the Mecitözü district of Turkey’s Çorum province, made an extraordinary discovery: a 3,300-year-old bracelet intricately crafted with gold. Experts later identified it as an electrum bracelet from the Hittite Empire, dating back to the 13th century BCE. After a meticulous restoration process, the unique artifact is now on public display at the Çorum Museum.
Çorum: Gateway to the Capital of the Hittite Empire
The discovery holds particular significance given that Çorum is home to Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite civilization. Located in modern-day Boğazkale, Hattusa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological centers representing early Anatolian statehood. Artifacts found in this region continue to shed light on the political, religious, and artistic practices of one of the Bronze Age’s most influential empires.
A Glimpse into Hittite Ritual Life
According to Çorum Museum Director Metin Çakar, the bracelet depicts a ceremonial scene in which a Hittite king presents an offering to the goddess Ishtar Šauška—a ritual known as libation. The scene also features Ninatta and Kulitta, two mythological attendants of the goddess. These visual motifs offer a rare and valuable insight into the religious practices of the Hittites.
“When the artifact was brought to us, it was heavily deformed,” says Çakar. “Our restoration team worked carefully to stabilize and preserve it. Some parts are missing, but the overall composition is still clearly visible.”
A One-of-a-Kind Piece in the World of Ancient Jewelry
The bracelet is made from electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, and is adorned with fine gold inlays. It stands out not only for its craftsmanship but also for the uniqueness of its iconography. According to Çakar, no similar examples of such a bracelet have been documented in the existing academic literature to date.
