Turkey unearths fragment of world’s oldest peace treaty
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Archaeologists in Turkey discovered a fragment of an ancient clay tablet bearing Akkadian cuneiform writing. The piece is part of a copy of the Kadesh Treaty, an agreement between Ancient Egypt and the Hittite Kingdom dating back to the 13th century BCE.
The discovery occurred during excavations at Büyükkale, located in the Turkish province of Çorum, once the capital of the Hittite Kingdom.
Researchers spent approximately one year studying the inscription on the fragment before confirming its connection to the ancient peace agreement reached after the Battle of Kadesh. The Kadesh Treaty is considered the first known international peace treaty, and copies of the text existed on silver plates, none of which survive today, as well as on clay tablets and the walls of Egyptian temples.
The newly found fragment contains lines from articles 12 to 20 of the treaty, detailing provisions for refugees and their property. Specifically, the agreement prohibited the destruction of homes belonging to people who fled from one kingdom to the other. The treaty also established a brotherly relationship between the rulers of Egypt and the Hittite Kingdom, with Ramses II referring to Hattusili III as his brother and emphasizing the need for lasting peaceful ties.
Turkish officials note that the treaty’s focus on protecting refugees and their homes demonstrates the enduring relevance of certain themes in international relations. They hope further archaeological work will reveal more pieces of this ancient diplomatic record, enriching our understanding of Bronze Age diplomacy and the relationship between these two powerful states.
