Hattusa archaeologists discover Kadesh Peace Treaty tablet fragment

Archaeologists excavating the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa in central Turkey have discovered a cuneiform tablet fragment belonging to the Kadesh Peace Treaty. The find was announced by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on World Peace Day.

The fragment, recovered near Building E at the Buyukkale site, was confirmed as part of the treaty following approximately one year of laboratory analysis. The text is written in Akkadian cuneiform and contains specific legal and diplomatic provisions regarding refugees and the protection of displaced persons.

The Kadesh Peace Treaty was established following a stalemate between the Egyptian Empire, led by Pharaoh Ramesses II, and the Hittite Empire, led by Muwatallis and later Hattusili III, after the Battle of Kadesh around 1274 B.C.E. While Egyptian versions exist as hieroglyphic carvings, the Hittite administration maintained copies on clay tablets. This discovery provides new insights into international law and refugee policies during the late Bronze Age.