Kingdom of Tabal Ancient City

Ancient City of the Kingdom of Tabal, or simply Ancient City of Tabal, is located on the summit of a dormant volcano known as Göllüdağ within the boundaries of Çiftlik district in Niğde province. Situated at an elevation of 2,172 meters above sea level, the site is also a volcanic cone featuring a crater lake. Göllüdağ lies southwest of Gölcük Village and Kömürcü Village. Its volcanic structure and natural features, together with the ancient city, enhance the region’s tourism potential.

Tabal is one of the Late Hittite city-states established in Anatolia following the collapse of the Hittite Empire in the 12th century BCE. During this period, the Kingdom of Tabal emerged as a powerful local principality centered in what is now Niğde and its surroundings. The settlement at Göllüdağ, dated to the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, is recognized as one of the major city-states of the Tabal region.

The ancient city was first discovered accidentally by local villagers 88 years ago. The first scientific excavations were initiated in 1934 by Professor Dr. Remzi Oğuz Arık and continued between 1968 and 1969 by Burhan Tezcan. After a long interval, excavations were resumed between 1992 and 1996 under the supervision of the Niğde Museum Directorate, with the participation of Professor Dr. Wulf Schirmer from the German Archaeological Institute. To date, excavations have been carried out in three distinct phases.

The Ancient City of Tabal was constructed in the architectural style characteristic of the Late Hittite period. The city is entirely enclosed by outer walls. Within these walls lies a complex of structures believed to include a palace and a temple. This sacred and administrative center was further protected by a second inner wall. Archaeological findings indicate that the buildings were arranged according to a symmetrical plan, but the city was abandoned before construction was completed.

Among the most significant finds from the ancient city are sculptural works. Particularly notable is the two-headed lion statue, currently on display at the Niğde Museum. At the city’s entrance, sphinx reliefs appear alongside lion figures and lion-headed door guardians and pedestals at both outer and inner gates. A total of 16 lion statues have been identified. For this reason, the Ancient City of Tabal is also known locally as the “City of Lions”.

^{Kazıların ardından keşfedilen bir aslan figürü.} (T.C. Çiftlik Kaymakamlığı)

The discovery of numerous unfinished or unworked artifacts during excavations indicates that the construction of the ancient city was halted midway. However, the reason why the population abandoned the city remains uncertain. Possible causes include sudden warfare, a natural disaster, or another unknown factor.

Göllüdağ and the Ancient City of Tabal situated upon it possess significant potential as a major tourism site due to their natural and cultural values. The site’s location atop a dormant volcano, its crater lake views, and its stone structures are expected to contribute substantially to archaeotourism. Conservation and promotion initiatives are ongoing under the supervision of relevant institutions.