NeoHittite

Neo-Hittite refers to a group of small city-states and kingdoms in southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria that arose after the collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1180 BCE. These polities endured roughly from the 12th through the 8th centuries BCE and are studied as part of the post-imperial, Iron Age landscape of the region. The term is used in archaeology and ancient history to distinguish these successor states from the earlier Hittite state while acknowledging their cultural connections.

Culturally and linguistically, Neo-Hittite communities preserved elements of Hittite tradition, including the use of the Luwian language and its scripts. Inscriptions and monumental reliefs were produced in both hieroglyphic Luwian and, less commonly, in cuneiform Luwian. Their artistic programs often featured royal inscriptions and deities, continuing a religious and ceremonial repertoire associated with the Hittite world. The material culture shows a blend of Hittite, Aramean, and local influences, reflecting ongoing interaction with neighboring peoples and states.

Politically, the Neo-Hittite states occupied important frontier zones along the Euphrates and in the Taurus and Anti-Taurus regions. They frequently interacted with the expanding Neo-Assyrian Empire, sometimes as semi-independent allies, rivals, or client states. By the 7th century BCE, many of these polities were absorbed into Assyrian provinces or kingdoms, contributing to the broader pattern of Assyrian consolidation in the Near East.

Archaeology and significance: the term Neo-Hittite was introduced to classify these post-empire communities and their distinctive inscriptions and reliefs. Key sites include Carchemish, Zincirli (Sam’al), and Tell Tayinat, whose remains illuminate the continuity and adaptation of Hittite cultural traditions in the Iron Age.