The establishment of the city center coincides with the 16th century AD. It was recorded in the sources under the name Bozok in 1560. The name Bozok was given by the Bozok Turkmen, who started to settle here in the 16th century. The name of Yozgat was changed to T.B.M.M. in 1927. given by decision. The fact that the history of Yozgat City Center is very recent does not mean that Yozgat and its surroundings were not inhabited in ancient times. As a matter of fact, the region has been inhabited since ancient times. This has been proven by many studies conducted in the region. As a result of the researches, it was understood that there were settlements in the region since the Chalcolithic period.

If a general chronology of Yozgat is given:
-   Chalcolithic Period: Stone and Metal Age. B.C. Between 5500 and 3000 years. This period is divided into 3 periods.

a- Early Chalcolithic: BC. 5500 - 4500
b- Middle Chalcolithic: (4500 – 4000 BC) Remains and traces of settlement began to be encountered towards the end of the Middle Chalcolithic in the Yozgat region. The centers of this period are Alişar (Sorgun) and Kaletepe Höyük. (Aydincik)
c- Late Chalcolithic: (4000 – 3500 BC)

The centers of this period are Alişar and Kaletepe Höyük.

• Bronze Age: (3000 – 1200 BC) The centers of this period are Alişar, Çengeltepe, Mercimektepe Höyük.
• Hittite Period: (1800 – 1200 BC) The centers of this period are Alişar, Mercimektepe - Hittite principalities period (1200 - 1100 BC).
• Phrygian Period: (750 – 680 BC) During this period, Phrygian settlements existed in the Alişar region, and according to the latest finds, Phrygian inscriptions unearthed on the Kerkenez Mountain (Sorgun) indicate that a Phrygian city was founded here as well.
• Med Period: BC. In the 700s, its traces can be seen in Alişar and on Mount Kerkenez.
• Persian Period: BC in Anatolia They ruled between 540 - 333 years. Alişar can be given as the center so far.
• Hellenistic Period: (330 – 30 BC) At the beginning of this period, traces of Alexander the Great are seen in Alişar.
• Galatian Age: (280 – 25 BC) Galatians BC. They migrated to Central Anatolia in the 3rd century, and their Trokmi branch settled in the region (Buyuknefes Village), which is referred to as Taviniya in Hittite sources, and founded the city called Tavion. Tavion developed as a commercial center. In addition, traces of Galatian invasion can be seen in Alişar.
• Roman Age: Roman Age for Anatolia BC. 30 - AD 395 Roman traces can be seen in many places in Yozgat in this era. (Tavion, Alişar, Tarbosthane (Sarıkaya), Yerköy)
• Byzantine Period: M.S. Between 395 and 1071. The centers where Byzantine traces have been seen in Yozgat so far are: Alişar, Tavion, Çeşka, Sarıkaya and Kazankaya Canyon, Yenifakılı, Özler.
• Many works belonging to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods are also located in Yozgat and its districts: Çandır Cupola, Çayıralan Çerkezbey Tomb, Saraykent Çinçinli Sultan Inn, Behramşah Castle, Çekereksu Inn and Bridge, Çapanoğlu Mosque, etc. (Muşali Castle in Yozgat Province, Akdağmadeni District)

Source :

T.C.  Yozgat Municipality