Archaeologists working in central Turkey have made a startling discovery: a 3,300-year-old clay tablet bearing a bone-chilling warning from the ancient Hittite Empire. The artefact, unearthed at the Büklükale ruins, carries an inscription that reads, "whoever breaks this will die."
A Sinister Message from the Bronze Age
The significant find was made near the Kizilirmak River, approximately 60 miles from the modern capital of Ankara. The tablet is believed to have been a seal used to authenticate a formal agreement or contract, with the dire warning serving as a deterrent against breaking its terms. This practice marks a stark departure from the Hittites' usual legal customs, which typically imposed fines for breaches of contract, making this particular threat exceptionally severe and unusual.
Leading the excavation is Associate Professor Dr. Kimiyoshi Matsumura from the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology, who is also a faculty member at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. Matsumura explained that the seal's cuneiform text names the "Great King Tabarna" or "Tavananna" (Sovereign Queen), indicating it was issued by the highest Hittite royal authority. "The king and queen from Hattusa sent something here," Matsumura stated, highlighting that this proves Büklükale had intensive relations with the Hittite capital and the royal family.
Uncovering a Royal City and Civil War
The 2023 excavations, which also involved analysing pottery fragments, suggest Büklükale was a single-period settlement from the Hittite era, spanning about 500 metres in diameter. The discovery points to the site being far more important than previously thought, potentially serving as a royal residence during the Bronze Age.
In a related find, Matsumura's team also uncovered another tablet from the same period detailing a civil war, written in the same language as the ominous seal. Furthermore, the recent unearthing of Hurrian language tablets at the site indicates that significant religious ceremonies, likely presided over by the Hittite king or queen, were conducted there. "All these finds show that Büklükale is an important city in the Hittite Empire," Matsumura summarised.
Historical Context and Significance
The tablet's primary message warns of a devastating invasion threatening the Hittite Empire, which was centred roughly 100km from Ankara. Experts from Anatolian Archaeology believe the accompanying contract, now lost, was likely a diplomatic gift or treaty. The stark death threat underscores the grave seriousness of the agreement it sealed, possibly related to military allegiance or territorial sovereignty during a time of conflict.
This remarkable discovery not only provides a direct and terrifying voice from the ancient past but also reshapes understanding of the Hittite Empire's political geography. It confirms Büklükale's role as a major administrative or royal hub, intimately connected to the heart of power in Hattusa and deeply involved in the empire's military and religious affairs over three millennia ago.
