What archaeological evidence suggests warfare in Early Bronze Age Anatolia?

Archaeological evidence from the Early Bronze Age in Anatolia suggests a society frequently engaged in warfare or military display. This is primarily evidenced by the widespread prevalence of fortified settlements, including single buildings, villages, towns, and palaces.1

Key findings supporting this conclusion include:

• Defensive Architecture: Sites such as Troy featured heavy stone walls with mud-brick superstructures, clay-covered glacis, and complex projecting gates with inner and outer doors. Other locations, such as Karataş-Semayük, utilized ditches and plastered ramparts, while villages like Demirci Hüyük relied on the outer walls of radial house arrangements for protection.21
• Military Equipment: The discovery of a wide variety of weapons—including daggers, swords, spears, and battle-axes—at various sites indicates a culture prepared for conflict.1
• Funerary Contexts: Weapons were also found as personal possessions in royal tombs, such as those at Alaca Hüyük, further highlighting the significance of military status or activity among the ruling elite.21