New Hittite Empire Clay Tablet Archive Discovered in Sivas

During archaeological excavations near the Turkish village of Kayalıpınar, researchers discovered 131 inscribed clay tablets and fragments belonging to the ancient city of Samuha.

Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on his “X” account that, with the new discoveries, the number of tablets in the archive has reached 184. According to him, this is the largest collection of Hittite written records discovered in the 21st century.

The texts describe an illness that spread widely among the population, particularly among children. One tablet also tells of the death of a royal princess after a severe illness and the ceremonial burial held for her.

The archive also contains information about prayers and magical rituals, various ceremonies, and methods of predicting the future by observing the flight and behavior of birds.