Alalah (Ancient City, Turkey)

Alalah was an ancient city of Turkey, whose foundations go reach back to around 2000 BCE, roughly into the first millennium of Ancient History. This ancient city was a center of commerce, existing on a significant trade route of the time. In addition Alalah was the capital of the Mukis Kingdom.

Excavations at the Aççana Mound — the modern name of the site of the ancient city of Alalah — are ongoing. The region was first excavated by Sir Leonard Wooley in the 1930s, though many discoveries remain.

Discoveries

A small piece of clay (measuring only 4.2 cm × 3.5 cm in area, 1.6 cm thick, and weighing only 28 g) was discovered at Alalah dating to c.1500 BCE. This small piece of clay is inscribed with cuneiform, and is an account and economic document, recording the sales of furniture — a large number of wooden tables, chairs and stools. [1] This document sheds some light on the economy of the culture in the region (Turkey) during the Late Bronze Age of the Near East.

Other similar finds have been made in the region. A recently-discovered cuneiform document records the purchase of an entire city. [1]