Kayalıpınar excavations reveal extensive Hittite cuneiform archive

Archaeologists in Kayalıpınar, Sivas, have uncovered 131 cuneiform tablets and fragments dating back to the reign of King Tudhaliya II. Combined with finds from the previous season, the total number of discovered artifacts has reached 184, forming what is described as the most comprehensive Hittite archive discovered in the 21st century.

The documents, written in Hittite and Hurrian, provide detailed insights into life approximately 3,400 years ago. Key findings include records of a high-fever epidemic that spread between cities, specifically affecting infants and children. One tablet details the health, death, and funeral rituals of a baby princess.

Additionally, the archive contains military correspondence from Hittite generals in Western Anatolia requesting soldiers, horses, and chariots to counter enemy threats. The tablets also offer new information regarding Hittite divination practices, including the recorded observations of bird diviners.