There is a large archaeological site in the Kayseri province of central Turkey, known as Kultepe. The literal translation from the Turkish is 'Ash Hill'. The site was first identified in the 19th Century but serious excavation did not begin until 1925, when over 1,000 cuneiform tablets were discovered.
     The next major excavations started in 1948, carried out by a team from the Turkish Historical society and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, led by Tahsin Ozguc, arguably the most famous Turkish field archaeologist. These excavations uncovered four different layers of occupation, dating from 2,000 BCE onwards. Now the outline of a large building has begun to be uncovered. The full extent of the building can only be guessed at this early stage but already it appears too large to be a private house.
     Professor Fikri Kuloglu, of Ankara University, the leader of the current team, believes that "It is most probably an administrative body. We believe that this is a building where Kanis King lived or governed his kingdom". More information should be made available as the excavation proceeds.

Edited from World Bulletin (4 November 2013)