Alpaslan Village: Archaeology and Local History

Alpaslan Village can be understood through its archaeological history and local traditions. At its center is Alpaslan Höyük: the site is registered as an archaeological site in Dinar, Afyonkarahisar. It was registered on May 16, 2017, by decision No. 5244. If you are interested in the history of the place, the Höyük offers a concrete archaeological point of reference; local traditions about the name provide another perspective.

Alpaslan Höyük and the Archaeological Landscape

Alpaslan Höyük is approximately 430 × 400 meters in size and around 10 meters high. Its length and width give the mound a broad footprint, while its height is considerably smaller. These approximate measurements offer a way to understand the scale of the archaeological site.

In Dinar District, Alpaslan Höyük is one of 37 Early Bronze Age settlement sites. Dense and extensive settlement traces dating to the 2nd millennium BC have also been identified in the Çölovası area; Alpaslan Höyük is one of the settlements in this area. This connects it to two geographic contexts: the group of Early Bronze Age settlement sites in the district and the archaeological traces in Çölovası.

Büyük Çataltepe is nearby and measures approximately 300 × 300 meters. By comparison, Alpaslan Höyük has larger base dimensions; both sites are several hundred meters in size. This comparison provides another concrete point of reference for archaeological sites in the area.

Local History and Cultural Context

According to a local historical account, the village of Alpaslan took its name from an Oğuz group. The group’s settlement, in turn, was named after its leader. This account is a local tradition about the origin of the name and complements the archaeological context with a distinct perspective on local history.

A large part of Alpaslan Village belongs to Çulova. There, Schalıvar, Göynek, Sıkma, Üçetek, Sarka, Futa, Şal and Kapak Kuşak are part of traditional women’s clothing. These eight terms add a clothing tradition passed down in the Çulova area to the history of the place. Thus, the cultural context encompasses not only settlement history but also named local traditions.

In the wider region, the Dinar International Marsyas Music Festival is one of the most important annual music events in Afyonkarahisar. This adds a recurring regional cultural theme to the archaeological and local history. Dates and program vary. If the festival is relevant to your travel plans, check the dates and program for the relevant edition in advance.

Location and Practical Information

A large part of Alpaslan Village lies in the Çöl Ovası. The center of Dinar District is 32 kilometers away; the exact road distance may vary depending on the route. Alpaslan is also on the road between Çay and Konya. Check the specific route and current conditions before setting out. You can use the distance to the center of Dinar and the road between Çay and Konya as two separate reference points when planning your journey.

Discover more destinations: Dumlupınar, Belenpınar Village, Yaka, Sultandağı, Gazligölakören, Işıklar, Afyonkarahisar, İhsaniye.

Back to the main travel overview: Afyonkarahisar.