Lost fragment reveals details of world’s oldest peace treaty
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Archaeologists in Türkiye discovered a fragment of the Treaty of Kadesh, a peace agreement signed over 3,000 years ago between Egypt and the Hittite Empire.
For decades, Egypt and the Hittite Empire competed for control of Syria and the eastern Mediterranean, culminating in the Battle of Kadesh around 1274 BCE.
Though neither side decisively won the battle, the prolonged conflict led to negotiations and eventually the Treaty of Kadesh under the rule of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Hittite King Hattusili III. The newly found clay fragment, unearthed at the Hittite capital of Hattusha, contains cuneiform text detailing provisions for the return of people who fled between the two kingdoms.
The treaty stipulated that while fugitives would be returned to their homelands, they would be protected from brutal punishments like blinding, ear-cutting, or foot amputation, and their families and homes would remain safe. This detail offers a rare insight into diplomatic practices and humanitarian concerns in the Bronze Age. The Hittite capital at Hattusha has yielded nearly 30,000 cuneiform tablets during more than a century of excavation, and the archive is recognised by UNESCO.
While this particular fragment doesn’t reveal new historical information, it reinforces the treaty’s focus on protecting the rights of displaced people, even within a context of ancient warfare and royal power. A copper replica of the treaty is displayed at the United Nations in New York as a symbol of lasting peace.
