Hittite royal archive found in Turkey

In the ancient Hittite city of Samuha, now known as Sivas in central Turkey, archaeologists have recently unearthed a royal archive containing cuneiform tablets and fragments. This year's excavation revealed 131 tablets and fragments, which provide a detailed account of various aspects of life 3,400 years ago. Last year’s excavation had already yielded 53 tablets and fragments, making this season’s discoveries more than triple the number of texts.

The archive now stands as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Hittite-language documents found in the 21st century.

The documents, which date back to the reign of King Tudhaliya II, are written in both Hittite and Hurrian languages. One of the tablets records a devastating fever epidemic that struck the king's infant daughter, a nursing baby at the time. The tablet also chronicles the subsequent funerary ritual performed in her honor. The health of not just infants but even adults of high-ranking officials was of great concern, with religious leaders conducting numerous rituals to monitor their well-being.

The records also include a letter from Hittite generals in western Anatolia, pleading for reinforcements to fend off enemy forces. The generals' desperate pleas underscore the military significance of Samuha during times of upheaval.

Another notable find is a letter from Hittite generals in western Anatolia, seeking reinforcements to counter enemy forces. The generals' desperate appeal highlights the military importance of Samuha, which was a royal stronghold under King Tudhaliya and later served as a launchpad for military campaigns by his successor, Suppiluliuma I. Samuha was also a major center for religious administration, dedicated to the Hurrian goddess Sauska, also known as Ishtar.

The archive includes various texts covering divination, correspondence, rituals, and prayers, offering researchers valuable insights into Hittite religious practices, the development of the Hittite language, and scribal culture.