The provenance of the basaltic raw material source(s) used by Hittite sculptors to create the monuments at Karatepe-Aslantaş, Turkey, has been investigated by means of polarising and scanning electron microscopy and image analysis to determine their mineralogy, textural properties and geochemical composition. Information concerning the weathering history of these chemically co-genetic basaltic lavas has been gained using the kaolinisation/plagioclase ratios versus TL values. In total, the results reveal that raw material sources (RMS) in the Domuztepe source area were used by Late Hittite craftsmen for the production of the Karatepe-Aslantaş artefacts, whereas the nearby massive and nonporous Sabunsuyu RMS were not exploited, most probably due to their petrographic properties. The distance of Domuztepe to the Karatepe-Aslantaş site reflects the great physical effort exerted in regard to the transportation of the raw materials from Domuztepe. This in turn provides information on the skills, expertise and knowhow and the social eligibility of the contemporary Late Hittite society and their views in choices concerning their perception on the use of the correct raw materials. The distance also suggests the use of the nearby river currents for the transport of the raw materials. The problems encountered in determining the precise RMS used in making these artefacts, especially the statue of the Storm God, emphasize the need for further studies. In this respect, the weathering patterns of each mineral should be studied in the basaltic specimens in this paper and of many others to be collected from adjacent regions occupied by the Late Hittite peoples.

已通过偏光和扫描电子显微镜及图像分析方法研究了赫梯雕刻家在土耳其的卡拉特佩-阿斯兰塔什（Karatepe-Aslantaş）用来建造纪念碑的玄武岩原料的来源，以确定其矿物学，质地特性和地球化学组成。这些化学共生玄武岩熔岩的风化历史信息已经通过高岭土化/斜长石比与TL值获得。总体而言，结果表明，后期赫梯工匠使用Domuztepe来源地区的原材料（RMS）来生产Karatepe-Aslantaş人工制品，而未开发附近的块状无孔Sabunsuyu RMS，这很可能是由于它们的岩石学特性。Domuztepe到Karatepe-Aslantaş站点的距离反映了在从Domuztepe运送原材料方面付出的巨大体力。这反过来提供了有关现代后期赫梯人社会的技能，专长和知识以及社会资格的信息，以及他们在选择使用正确原材料方面的看法。该距离还建议使用附近的河流来运输原材料。在确定用于制作这些文物的精确RMS时遇到的问题，尤其是风暴神的雕像，强调了需要进一步研究的问题。在这方面，