Acemhoyuk Acemhöyük, an ancient settlement in Turkey, is situated at the southeastern edge of Tuz Gölü, approximately 18 km northwest of Aksaray, in a fertile plain. The city is divided into two sections: one part is located on a hill that measures 700 by 600 meters, while the other extends below it, partially covering the area of the modern Yeşilova village. The highest point, the citadel, stands 20 meters above the surrounding landscape and is currently referred to as Sarikaya because of the bright yellow mudbricks. The tell is situated to the south of the present-day village, and in the center, there used to be a modern cemetery. Previous archaeological digs have revealed that the mound holds at least 12 layers dating back to the Old Bronze Age and the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period, with the Lower City being inhabited only during this specific era. The city's development spanned from the 25th century BC to the 18th century BC, but it is particularly renowned for its prominence during the Assyrian Trade Colonies Age. Sadly, much of the remnants of this glorious period were destroyed by a devastating fire, the cause of which remains unknown. Although it was reconstructed twice more by the survivors of the catastrophe in the 18th century BC, the city was ultimately deserted in the 17th century BC. The remaining inhabitants concentrated on establishing settlements around the western and southern slopes of the mound from the 6th century BC until the onset of the Roman Period. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the Sarikaya Palace, which was once situated on the citadel. Although much of the western part of the palace has been damaged by modern activities and later settlements, the preserved 1.5-2 meter thick walls indicate that the palace contained around 50 rooms. The palace was encircled on the northern, eastern, and western sides by a portico featuring marble bases and wooden columns. The ground floor served as a storage area, and clay bullaes (seals) were found in every room. It is likely that officials' quarters were located on the upper floor, much like the arrangement seen at Kültepe. Acemhöyük was also an early industrial hub for metal production, as shown by various archaeological findings. Excavations have revealed silver and copper ingots, which were used as trade wealth, along with decorative items made from a variety of metals such as gold, bronze, and lead. Additional excavation efforts outside the city have provided insights into human settlement spanning several millennia. The Pratt Ivories, also referred to as the Acemhöyük Ivories, are a set of ancient furniture decorations dating to the early second millennium B.C. Discovered in Anatolia and later donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. George D. Pratt between 1932 and 1937, the collection features four sphinxes, three lion legs, a falcon, and two reclining gazelles. These items represent the earliest and most complete examples of a luxury chair or throne from the ancient world. Other artifacts likely belonged to smaller decorative items. Originally, these pieces came from Acemhöyük, where they were plundered and later sold on the antiquities market. If you have any questions or need more information about Acemhöyük, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply message us on WhatsApp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.