# Why was Hattusa abandoned? · Late Bronze Age collapse > Four answers have been proposed. Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:58+00:00 --- **0** # Why was Hattusa abandoned? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the court moved away for political reasons, leaving the capital to decline** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The Hittite capital is the case where climate evidence is nearest in space and time, and where archaeology now shows abandonment rather than conquest⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse). ## Answers 4 [**Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464WK22BKN/consecutive-harvest-failures-in-central-anatolia-made-the) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**The court moved away for political reasons, leaving the capital to decline.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464Y9R7VSY/the-court-moved-away-for-political-reasons-leaving-the) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Hattusa was sacked by enemies, local (the Kaska) or the Sea Peoples.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464XJA6N8E/hattusa-was-sacked-by-enemies-local-the-kaska-or-the-sea) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464YSC2HE5/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1936[Edgerton & Wilson puts forward: hattusa was sacked by enemies, local (the Kaska) or the Sea Peoples.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CZ23GSB/historical-records-of-ramses-iii-the-texts-in-medinet-habu) 1. 1936[Edgerton & Wilson: ramesses III lists Hatti among the lands that could not stand before the invaders.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CZ23GSB/historical-records-of-ramses-iii-the-texts-in-medinet-habu)For: Hattusa was sacked by enemies, local (the Kaska) or the Sea Peoples. 1. 2023[Manning et al. puts forward: consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse) 1. 2023[Manning et al. puts forward: the court moved away for political reasons, leaving the capital to decline.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse) 1. 2023[Manning et al.: thirteenth-century texts on grain shortages lack detail and are read differently by different scholars.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse)Against: Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable. 1. 2023[Manning et al.: three consecutive severe dry years about 1198–1196 BC in the Gordion record, 230 km from Hattusa.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse)For: Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable. 1. 2023[Manning et al.: investigations indicate the city was emptied by its administration and burned later.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse)Against: Hattusa was sacked by enemies, local (the Kaska) or the Sea Peoples. 1. 2023[Manning et al.: elements of the Hittite political system continued in the south-east and northern Syria, on a smaller scale.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse)For: The court moved away for political reasons, leaving the capital to decline. 1. 2026[Hagens: fifteen significant droughts across the kingdom's last century suggest a cumulative decline.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464DEP43YA/fifteen-significant-droughts-radiocarbon-dating-and-the-last)For: Consecutive harvest failures in central Anatolia made the capital and its grain system unsustainable. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N8P0FCE/why-was-hattusa-abandoned%23add-source) Where it fits Late Bronze Age collapse **Why was Hattusa abandoned?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]