New Hattusa Tablet Piece Identified as Part of the Ancient Treaty of Kadesh
Archaeologists uncovered a cuneiform fragment at Hattusa that scholars say belongs to the Akkadian version of the Treaty of Kadesh between Hittite King Hattusili III and Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II.
During ongoing digs at the Hittite capital Hattusa, a small clay tablet piece was found near Building E in the Büyükkale area of Çorum province. After a year of scholarly analysis, researchers identified the text as part of the Akkadian copy of the Treaty of Kadesh, the historic accord signed by Hittite King Hattusili III and Egyptian King Ramesses II. The legible lines correspond to Articles 12-20, which address the status of people seeking refuge across the two realms and guarantee the safety of their dwellings.
Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy highlighted the discovery on September 21, World Peace Day, emphasizing Anatolia’s longstanding role in diplomatic history and drawing parallels to present-day humanitarian concerns. Existing fragments of the treaty are housed in museums in Istanbul, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, and the new piece adds to efforts to reconstruct the full tablet. Excavations at Büyükkale continue with hopes of locating additional missing sections.
Why it matters
The find deepens understanding of one of the earliest recorded peace agreements and its refugee protections.
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