[REVISION HISTORY]

Hittite cuneiform archive discovery in Turkey

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-10 09:39 UTC → 2026-10-10 21:58 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Archaeologists excavating in Kayalıpınar, Sivas, have uncovered a significant cuneiform archive from the Hittite era. The discovery includes 131 new tablets and fragments, bringing the total number of artifacts found at the site to 184. These documents date back approximately 3,400 years to the reign of King Tudhaliya II. Written in Hittite and Hurrian, the archive provides detailed information on ancient military correspondence, divination practices, and public health. Notably, the texts record a high-fever epidemic that spread between cities, specifically affecting infants and children. One account details the death and funeral rituals of a baby princess in the city of Ziulila. The findings suggest that the Hittite court monitored health outbreaks closely and utilized religious experts to interpret potential dangers. Recent reports confirm that excavations in the ancient Hittite city of Šamuḫa have specifically yielded these 131 cuneiform tablets. These records document the fever epidemic and the subsequent royal medical monitoring and religious rituals employed to manage the crisis.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.