Corpus of Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions, Vol. 2: Karatepe-Aslantas

This volume aims to provide a complete, compact and up-to-date edition of both the Phoenician and the Hieroglyphic Luwian texts of Karatepe-Aslantas, the longest known to date. It will thus offer the necessary documentation for that part of J. D. Hawkins' monumental Corpus of Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions (forthcoming).
Excavations at the site were initially conducted on behalf of the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University, The Turkish Historical Society and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, then affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of National Education.
During the excavation of the sculptured and inscribed monuments it became apparent that over 45 % of the estimated total were missing or fragmentary. Innumerable blocks and fragments of basalt were found scattered on the surface, fallen on the slopes or buried, and should not be abandoned to an uncertain fate.
After H. Th. Bossert, scientific director of the excavations, had in 1951 officially declared the excavation activities on the site as closed and prepared to move on to Misis (ancient Mopsuhestia), the potential capital, the Karatepe-Aslantas team fell apart. Only U. Bahadir Alkim continued his architectural studies for several more years. He then moved on to excavate other sites.