In the autumn of 1947 excavations on behalf of the Museum of the University of Ankara were begun on the höyük opposite the rock - relief of Hattuşiliş III and Queen Puduhepal. In 1954 restricted excavations were conducted in the same place with the purpose of checking the previous findings. The Fırakdin höyük is in an area where Hittite rock reliefs exist in large quantities and where, due to natural causes, höyüks are very rare. The environment of the hill, which is close to the valley of the Saınantı, is very favorable to the formation of a höyük. Our knowledge of the Hittite towns in this region on the immediate outskirts of the Taurus mountains being very limited, we have found it expedient to choosc this höyük in order to gain an insight into the characteristics of all those belonging to the Hittite civilization. For this hill is closer to the rock - relief than the one situated between Şahrnelik and Hüseyinli , and, since it represents a Hittite town, is suitable for the investigation of the relation between the rnonument of Hattuşiliş III and the settlements.