Archaeological excavations at the ancient settlement of Samuha (Kayalıpınar), located within the borders of Sivas province, have uncovered a massive archive belonging to one of the administrative centers of the Hittite Empire. Announced by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the discovery includes 131 new cuneiform tablets and fragments dating to the reign of King Tuthaliya II. With these finds, the total number of tablets in the region has risen to 184, officially establishing it as the largest Hittite archive discovered in the 21st century.
Epidemic Panic and Mourning in the Palace
Some of the most striking documents in the archive concern a high-fever epidemic that spread rapidly between cities at the time, particularly affecting infants and children. The tablets detail the closely monitored health status of a sick baby princess, the consultation of oracles for her recovery, and her eventual death and subsequent funeral ceremonies. These records bring to light the personal tragedies experienced by the Hittite royal family and provide insight into the medical understanding of the period.
Urgent Calls for Aid from Western Anatolia
Military correspondence also reveals the strategic challenges faced by the Hittite State. Letters sent to the king by Hittite generals serving in Western Anatolia show that they were under enemy siege and urgently requested reinforcements of soldiers, horses, and chariots. The generals' stern warnings that the army would be destroyed if support did not arrive, and that they would not accept responsibility, attest to the empire's struggle for border security.
Diaries of the Bird Diviners
The discovered texts also include fascinating details regarding Hittite religious practices. It was revealed that bird diviners recorded their journeys to regions outside Samuha, the routes they followed, and the birds they observed, much like a diary. These documents open a new window into how the Hittites practiced divination methods and interpreted nature. The excavations, led by Associate Professor Çiğdem Maner from Koç University, are expected to reshape Hittite history.
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