A 3,300-year-old tablet unearthed from the ruins of Büklükale in central Turkey sheds light on a catastrophic event within the enigmatic Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age. Discovered by archaeologist Kimiyoshi Matsumura in May 2023, the palm-sized clay tablet contains cuneiform inscriptions, indicating a foreign invasion amid a Hittite civil war, possibly aimed at supporting one of the conflicting factions.
The tablet, believed to be a record of a sacred ritual, bears six lines in Hittite language detailing the distress of four cities, including the capital Hattusa, followed by a 64-line prayer in Hurrian language, directed to Teššob, the storm god revered by both Hittites and Hurrians. Matsumura suggests that the tablet indicates the involvement of the Hittite king in the ritual, possibly signifying Büklükale’s significance as a royal residence comparable to Hattusa.
Historically, the Hittite Empire emerged around 2100 B.C. in central Anatolia, evolving into a formidable power by 1450 B.C. Their encounters are documented in various ancient texts, including conflicts with the Egyptians. Despite being overshadowed by the Late Bronze Age collapse around the 12th century B.C., the tablet’s reference to an invasion coincides with a period of internal strife within the Hittite heartland, predating the broader collapse.
Hurrian, the language of the prayer, has origins in the Mitanni kingdom, later assimilated into the Hittite sphere. Although poorly understood, the tablet provides insight into religious practices and communication between gods and humans during tumultuous times. It highlights the role of Hurrian religious traditions in the early Hittite Empire.
While the discovery awaits formal publication in a peer-reviewed journal, scholars like Daniel Schwemer acknowledge its significance in enriching our understanding of Hurrian religious literature and its importance within the Hittite royal court.
