TÜRKÇE
Yerkapı Tunnel Inscriptions (BOĞAZKÖY 28)
First noticed by visitor Bülent Genç in 2022, hundreds of hieroglyphic signs painted in reddish pigment have been found on the rocks of the Yerkapı tunnel walls. Extending throughout the tunnel on both the west and east side walls, the signs and sign groups appear on about 250 blocks, many of them in good condition. Despite the high number of inscribed blocks, many contain repetitions, and only six distinct writings have been identified. Two of these are personal names (Ari-Šadu and Innara), two are titles identifying the individuals as stoneworkers, and the other two appear to be location labels, mentioning "Donkey Gate Road" and "The Path (through/of) Mt. Tuthaliya." If the interpretation is correct, the last label may imply that the sacred Mt. Tuthaliya—after which several Hittite kings were named—could be the name of Yerkapı Hill. The other label might refer to the tunnel’s function as a passageway for donkey caravans.
