Metin Alparslan

Dr. Metin Alparslan is an Associate Professor at Istanbul University, specializing in Hethitology. He has been actively involved in archaeological excavations at Hattusha/Boğazköy, Elbistan Karahöyük, Oylum Höyük, and the Yesemek Survey since the late 1990s. His academic career spans roles as a scientific assistant (1997), assistant professor (2008), and associate professor (2018). He is a member of the Türk Eskiçağ Bilimleri Enstitüsü (since 2013) and corresponding member of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (since 2015).

• Education: Began with Classical Archaeology, later obtained Magister Artium (2000) and PhD (2007) in Hethitology from Istanbul University.

Metin Alparslan focuses on Hittite historical geography, political structures, and trade routes in Anatolia. His research explores the topography of Hattusa, administrative practices in the Hittite Empire, and the integration of archaeological and textual evidence. He contributes to interdisciplinary projects under the DFG Centre for Advanced Study 2615, particularly on rethinking 'Oriental Despotism' through Hittite and Anatolian studies.

His publications from 1999–2019 include analyses of Hittite trade, historical geography, seals, hieroglyphs, and archaeological contexts. Collaborative works often involve his spouse, M. Doğan-Alparslan, and colleagues like A. Dinçol and E. Konyar. He has contributed to projects such as the Boğazköy-Hattuşa excavations and the Yesemek Survey, combining philology with fieldwork.

As a visiting scientist at KFG 2615 (May–July 2020), he collaborated on interdisciplinary research. His expertise bridges textual analysis with material culture, emphasizing the synthesis of historical and archaeological data in Anatolia.