Hittite royal archive discovered in Turkey
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Archaeologists working in Kayalipinar, a village in central Turkey, uncovered 131 cuneiform tablets, adding to 53 previously found to create a collection now called the “Royal Archive in Kayalipinar.” Çiğdem Maner of Koç University led the team excavating the site of Shamuha, a Bronze Age settlement, since 2021.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the discovery, calling it the most comprehensive Hittite archive found this century.
The tablets reveal details of life within the Hittite Empire around 3,400 years ago. One tablet contains observations about birds and their flight paths, recorded as part of Hittite divination practices. Another is a letter from Hittite generals to King Tudhaliya II, urgently requesting reinforcements to defend against enemies, and warning of potential defeat if aid doesn’t arrive.
The archive also holds personal records, including a tablet detailing the death of an infant princess from a fever during a regional epidemic. Divination was used to attempt to predict her fate, and the tablet describes the funeral rituals performed. Researchers believe the archive will offer new insights into Hittite history, society, and religious beliefs.
