A team of archaeologists discovered a complex underground drainage installation at a spring in Oymaağaç Höyük, in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. This site, identified as the ancient Hittite city of Nerik, has revealed a water control infrastructure dating back to the Bronze Age, between 1525 and 1426 BCE, according to dendrochronological and radiocarbon studies conducted by the Balkan-Aegean Dendrochronology Project (BAD Project).
Work at Oymaağaç Höyük began in 2009 and continued until 2019, uncovering an impressive underground complex consisting of a long staircase leading to a chamber with an artificial spring, located approximately nine meters below the current ground level.
Thanks to the anoxic conditions of the subsoil, a large number of wooden artifacts were found in an exceptional state of preservation. Among them, a drainage structure made of pine wood stands out, designed to control the flow of water within the chamber.
Archaeologists have determined that this structure was composed of two rectangular wooden blocks, tightly fitted into the chamber wall, with a perforated log inside that served as a water conduit. This represents evidence of the sophisticated water management of the Hittite civilization.
To determine the exact age of the installation, researchers from the BAD Project conducted a detailed analysis of the wood’s growth rings, complemented by radiocarbon dating. The methodology used allowed them to refine the construction date to between 1525 and 1426 BCE, confirming that the structure belongs to the Late Hittite period.
Despite challenges in correlating it with preexisting dendroarchaeological chronologies, this discovery constitutes a key reference for future research on architecture and urban planning in prehistoric Anatolia. Furthermore, it highlights the need to expand dendrochronological studies in the region, as the available pine chronologies for this period are limited.
Nerik, the city where this discovery was made, was an important religious center of the Hittites, linked to the cult of the storm god. Its location in northern Anatolia made it a strategic enclave, frequently contested between the Hittites and the Kaskas, a rival group from the region.
The fact that the drainage installation was built during a period when the Hittites faced difficulties maintaining control of the area suggests that Nerik may have undergone significant urban renewal to consolidate its religious and political importance.
The discovered structure may have played a fundamental role in ensuring access to potable water, a critical resource in times of instability.
The discovery at Oymaağaç Höyük represents a significant advancement in understanding hydraulic engineering practices in the Bronze Age. At the same time, it raises new questions about the evolution of Hittite urbanism and the use of local materials for constructing essential infrastructure.
Researchers hope that this finding will drive new studies in the region, allowing for the creation of more complete and precise dendrochronological timelines.
Likewise, they emphasize the importance of preserving these archaeological sites, which offer a unique window into the past and the civilizations that laid the foundations of modern societies.
SOURCES
Y. Özarslan, D.P. Mielke, et al., Tree-ring analysis and absolute dating of a wooden water-drain installation from the Late Bronze Age underground spring chamber of Oymaağaç Höyük/Nerik, Türkiye. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 62, April 2025, 105058. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105058
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Extreme droughts triggered the great barbarian invasion of Roman Britain in the mid-4th century AD
A study led by the University of Cambridge has revealed that a series of extreme droughts between the years 364 and 366 AD may have been a determining factor in…
There is life on planet K2-18b: Strongest signs yet of biological activity detected outside the Solar System
A team of astronomers led by the University of Cambridge has detected the chemical fingerprints of possible signs of life on a planet outside the solar system. Using data from…
Archaeologists Discover a Roman Castellum on the Banks of the Danube, the First Found in Austria
For the first time, an archaeological investigation has conclusively documented the existence of a brückenkopfkastell—a Roman auxiliary outpost castle erected at a strategic river crossing point—on Austrian soil. The discovery,…
Prehistoric Sun Protection: How Homo sapiens Survived the Planet’s Magnetic Reversal 41,000 Years Ago
A recent study led by the University of Michigan suggests that Homo sapiens who inhabited Europe around 41,000 years ago may have survived a period of intense solar radiation thanks…
Magenta, the Color Born from a Battle
The history of colors is intertwined with the evolution of humanity, reflecting scientific advances, cultural conquests, and historical moments that have left an indelible mark on our perception of the…
This Is How Humans Managed to Make Fire During the Ice Age Glaciation
For millennia, fire has been considered an essential element for human survival: it not only provided warmth in hostile climates but also enabled food cooking, tool-making, and even served as…
A Celtic Iron Age Necropolis Found in France Without Human Remains but With Complete Swords in Their Sheaths and Other Treasures
At the top of the archaeological site of Creuzier-le-Neuf, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a team from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) has uncovered an extensive necropolis dated…
Ancient Inscriptions, Heraldic Shields, and Drawings Deciphered in the Cenacle of Jerusalem Built by the Crusaders
An international team of researchers has succeeded in identifying and analyzing dozens of medieval graffiti in one of Christianity’s holiest sites, the Cenacle of Jerusalem, the place where tradition says…
The Military Secrets of Urartu: How a Forgotten Kingdom Challenged the Mighty Assyrian Empire
In the mountains of eastern Anatolia, during the Iron Age between the 9th and 6th centuries BC, a kingdom arose that challenged one of the greatest powers of its time:…
Maximator, the intelligence alliance formed by five European countries that ended up being spied on by their own machines
Military alliances are interstate political agreements signed to achieve common defense. They have existed since Antiquity (remember, for instance, the leagues formed by the Greek city-states), and although their most…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
