Pala is a Bronze Age culture, located in northern Anatolia (Turkey) near the mountainous regions by the Black Sea. In the eastern mountain highlands are the Kaskians or Kaska, an aggressive group of warrior tribes.
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West of the Kaska land is the region of Pala. According to contemporary texts Pala is bordered by Tummana to the northeast, whose territory extends along the south Black Sea Coast. Hittite Kalasma is to the west and Mount Asharpaya toward the south.
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An Indo-European language found in cuneiform tablets of Bronze Age Hattusa, Palaic is spoken in much of northern Anatolia. Despite Pala's precarious position, Palaic is one of the four major language groups of ancient Anatolia.
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The others are Hittite (central Anatolia), Luwic (southern Anatolia) and Lydian (western Anatolia). The Palaic language apparently goes extinct in the 13th century BCE, but may be sooner due to relentless Kaskian expansion.
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Throughout the Hittite occupation of Anatolia (c. 1600 - 1100 BCE) the Kaska are the primary people who harry them endlessly. A loose gathering of tribal groups with half-hearted attempts at central administration, Kaskians are one reason the Hittite Empire never reaches the Black Sea coast.
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Mount Asharpaya, named as the southern boundary of the Pala lands, is mentioned in a passage on a victory stele. The stele is inscribed with the worlds of Hittite King Mursilis II (r. 1330 - 1295 BCE).
The next year, I went to Mount Asharpaya. The city Gasgas (Kaskas) that had held Asharpaya had blocked the roads of the land Palā. Then I fought those Gasgas of Asharpaya. Then my lady the Sun-goddess of Arinna, my lord the awesome Tarhus [Tarḫunna], Mezzullas and all the gods went before me. I conquered Mount Asharpaya that the Gasgas had held, I killed them. I devastated Asharpaya. Then I came back. After I arrived at the city Sammaha, I entered the city Ziulila.
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"Mezzullas" refers to the triple goddess aspect of Mezzulla, the daughter of the Sun Goddess of Arinna. Together with Mezzulla's daughter Zintuḫi (Hattian for 'granddaughter') they form a sacred solar trinity of three generations.
The city Ziulila is east of Hattusa, the Hittite capital. Whether the Palaic nation extends north to the Black Sea in ancient days, or whether it's located further inland is so far unknown. Its location is placed c 600 mi (965 km) west of Troy, or in the northern mountains, or in central Anatolia.
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The Palaic people don't establish a capital or major cities. In the Old Hittite period (c. 1700 - 1500 BCE) Pala is recorded as an administrative area under Hittite law. Nonetheless the people have a strong pantheon. Some Palaic gods appear at the Hittite capital.
At the end of the Old Hittite period, the Kaskians capture the Black Sea region. Contact between the Hittites and Pala stops.
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Although the area is still called 'the land of Pala' as late as Hittite King Muršili II (1330 -1295 BCE), it's possible the Palaic people scatter and disperse after the Kaskian invasion. They may have migrated in a hurry.
Other possibilities include assimilation into the Kaskian nation. Warlike as they are, Kaskians are among the great opportunists of the ancient world. Or, the people drift south, further into the cosmopolitan Hittite lands.
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At the Hittite capital of Hattusa, the Palaic people leave a reminder. The storm god of the Palaic pantheon, Ziparwa, continues to be worshipped by a cult following. Hittite and Palaic mythology both include goddess Inar (Inara) and the smith god Hashamili.
With the crash of the Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age, many Hittite affiliates collapse as well. Kaskians sack Hattusa in 1190 BCE. The last Hittite King, Šuppiluliuma II, is gone by 1178 BCE. No one knows whether he abandons the city, or is killed in the Kaska sacking.
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Beginning in classical antiquity (8th century BCE - 5th century CE), Pala and the Kaskian lands become known as Paphlagonia. There are various theories about the origins of the Pala people. Their culture reflects both Hattian and Luwian characteristics. Where they went is just as much a mystery.
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