Mining Processing and Casting in Hittites

Both the Sumerian and Assyrian Trade Colonies in the Mesopotamia region and the trade exchanges between the Hittite royal colonies in today's central Anatolia region are mentioned in the Hittite tablets. Especially in the last period of the Hittites, the trade of metals as processed or raw materials takes an important among these commercial products. It is known that mines were processed up to 3000 B.C. years. Iron, gold, silver, tin, copper and bronze were processed during the Hittite period. It was seen that obtained as a result of excavations metals were used in the production of swords and various personal objects. They melted the mine, prepared the mold and cast it as desired. When the household items made of clay sludge in the year 4000 B.C. are examined, it is seen that they have knowledge about mold making even before. Objects made from mines were mostly presented to the kings as gifts. The small objects found in the excavations are usually women's jewelry, combat tools, God statuette casting from different mines. In this study, it was examined how the hittites shaped metal mines by casting method.