Pre-Hittite period

The pre-Hittite period in Anatolia encompasses the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages, predating the arrival of the Indo-European Hittites. Archaeological findings at sites like Çatalhöyük reveal early settled communities with decorated houses and skilled sculpture. Chalcolithic sites such as Hacılar show advancements in architectural planning and pottery. The Early Bronze Age saw the development of fortified settlements like Troy and sophisticated metalwork, notably from royal tombs at Alaca Höyük.1

The indigenous population spoke Hattian, a non-Indo-European language, before the arrival of Indo-European speakers who eventually became known as the Hittites. These early Indo-Europeans, speaking dialects like Nesite, Luwian, and Palaic, likely entered Anatolia gradually, influencing and being influenced by the existing Hattian culture. The earliest textual evidence from Anatolia comes from the Cappadocian tablets (2000–1735 BCE), written in Old Assyrian by merchants.23