Mysterious tablet with ‘lost’ language describes catastrophic ‘disaster’ from ancient times

A stunning 3,300-year-old clay tablet has been unearthed in Turkey.

The small tablet was found in May 2023 by Kimiyoshi Matsumura, an archaeologist at Japan’s Institute of Anatolian Archaeology.

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It was found in the Hittite ruins of Büklükale, about 60 kilometers southeast of Ankara.

The tablet may offer new insights into a darker chapter in the history of the Hittite empire.

The Hittite state was a Bronze Age state centered in Anatolia (modern Turkey).

Despite its importance, much about the Hittite empire remains shrouded in mystery.

This is mainly because the language was not deciphered until the early 20th century, in the 1930s.

This particular tablet contains inscriptions in both Hittite and Hurrian languages ​​describing a devastating invasion.

The invasion hit four Hittite cities during a tumultuous period of civil war.

Researchers believe the tablet was used during a religious ceremony, possibly as a plea for the victory of the Hittite king.

Mark Weeden, associate professor of ancient Middle Eastern languages ​​at University College London, translated the first six lines.

According to Weeden, the texts say that “four cities, including the capital Hattusa, are in disaster.”

Meanwhile, the remaining 64 lines are a prayer in the Hurrian language asking for victory.

Researchers noted that the Hurrian language was probably used by the Hittites in religious ceremonies.

“The discovery of the Hurrian tablet means that the religious ritual in Büklükale was performed by the Hittite king,” he said in an email.

“It indicates that the Hittite king at least came to Büklükale… and performed the ritual.”

The Hittite Empire was a major power in the ancient world, ruling from the 18th to the 12th century BC. about Anatolia and parts of the Near East.