Western Anatolia in the 2nd Millennium BC: Local Culture and Foreign Contacts

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Within the framework of the project, various aspects of West Anatolian culture from the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age until the end of the Late Bronze Age will be presented and evaluated in respect to both local developments and foreign influences. The research on West Anatolia in the 2nd Mil. BC has developed since the end of the 19th century, but this entire cultural landscape has always remained in the shadow of much better known and powerful neighbours: Hittite central Anatolia and the Minoan and Mycenaean cultural spheres. Hittite conquest known from written sources as well as the idea of colonisation or strong influence from the Aegean have always played an important role in the interpretation of Bronze Age West Anatolian finds. Therefore, in studies of material culture, it is important to give primary attention to the local contexts and regional developments. The impact from the outside should not be denied, but in the discussion of influences and foreign contacts not only the presence of imports, but also the presence of local products, which are the result of the entanglement of indigenous traditions and foreign impacts, must be considered. In this project, components of West Anatolian culture, such as architecture, funeral rites, small finds and pottery, will be examined as sources for the evaluation.