Varriale, Giovanni (2025) ḪATTUŠA PROJECT (TURKEY): GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS, 3D DIGITIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS FOR THE GEOSPATIAL DATA ANALYSIS. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

This research presents an integrated geoarchaeological and remote-sensing investigation of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ḫattuša, capital of the Hittite Empire, aimed at reconstructing the interplay between the geological substrate, monumental architecture, and large-scale landscape transformations. A new geological map of the area refines the structural understanding of the Ankara Mélange, whose superposed thrust sheets, ophiolitic units, and Quaternary deposits form the complex bedrock supporting the Hittite urban system. Within this framework, high-resolution 3D survey methods – combining UAV photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning – were employed to investigate key sectors of the city, including the Yerkapı complex, the Gorge Area, and the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya. At Yerkapı, digital models, pigment analyses, and geomorphological reconstructions clarify the architectural organisation of the Sphinx Gate and postern and quantify extensive earth-moving operations exceeding 600,000 m³, revealing how Hittite interventions reshaped hydrology, topography, across the Upper City. The Gorge Area, a segment of the eastern fortification line, was analysed through a combined geological and 3D spatial approach to to evaluate how natural rock formations were exploited to secure the defensive perimeter. At Yazılıkaya, integrated digital-survey and geological-mapping techniques supported the characterisation of the sanctuary’s geomorphological setting and clarified the structural features of the limestone outcrop that hosted its ritual spaces. Collectively, these studies demonstrate how the integration of remote sensing, geological mapping, and spatial analysis provides new insights into Hittite engineering, the strategic use of local geology, and the shaping of ceremonial and defensive infrastructures. The research establishes a robust, multi-methodological framework for interpreting complex geoarchaeological contexts and enhances our understanding of the dynamic interaction between geology, monumentality, and cultural practice at Ḫattuša.

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