Amongst the remains of the Great Temple at Hattusa , locate in modern - day Turkey , is a feature that stands out : a largemonolithof nephrite , carved into the shape of a cube .
The stone , called a " compliments gemstone " by local to the area , was found in the remains of theHittite empirethat square up in the area from around 2000 BCE , and became one of the predominant powers of the Middle East by 1340 BCE . The chapiter , Hattusa , likely housed40,000 - 50,000 peopleat the civilisation ’s peak , and was home to a number of temple , royal residencies , and fortifications , before being gradually abandoned over the course of action of several ten around 1200 BCE .
Many of these structures survived ( albeit barely ) until today , including the Great Temple and the occult lump ofnephritewithin it . unluckily , we have been leave behind with few clues to the I. F. Stone ’s original design .
" The unripened stone is very different from other stones in this archaeological website and that is why it is draw in such an attention , " archaeologist Andreas Schachner toldAnadolu Agencyin 2019 . " This stone is serpentinite or nephrite ( jade ) . It is a variety of Harlan Stone that can be found in the area . It is not so special stone , but it is remarkable that it is bear on monolithically . "
There have been suggestion that the stone may have hadreligious significance , with cults prevalent in the Hittite Empire , as find in a nearby closure of Alaca Höyük .
" During the ulterior period of the Hittite Empire , Alaca Höyük seems to have become a major craze substance , " archeologist Damien Stonewritesin his bookThe Hittites : Lost Civilizations , tally that ancientHittiterecords give clue that the web site was likely dedicated to a Sun goddess . " No inscription has been found yet that identify its ancient name , but the most potential prospect is Arinna , the city of the Sun - goddess . "
However , similar I. F. Stone have not been find despite the abundance of nephrite in the area , suggesting that the rock may not have had much significance . The ultimate purposeremains unsung , and it could just have served as thebase of a statue . Unless significant discovery are made at the site , or others around the area , we will probably never know its true function . But we can confidently say it does n’t grant any wishing .
