Archaeologists Discovered Kadesh Treaty Fragment
A new clay fragment from the ancient peace treaty was found at the site of Hattusa in Turkey.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Historical
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Archaeologists have discovered a clay fragment inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform at the Büyükkale site in Hattusa, Turkey. Scientific analysis confirmed the piece is a copy of the historic Kadesh Peace Treaty.
Why it matters
The treaty originally signed by Egypt and the Hittites 3,300 years ago represents a landmark in ancient diplomacy. This new fragment provides additional insight into the articles detailing the handling of refugees and property destruction.
The fragment contains text from articles 12 through 20 of the treaty, which was formally signed by Ramses II and Hattusilli III around 1269 B.C.E. The original agreement dates back approximately 3,300 years.
The players
Ramses II
He was an Egyptian Pharaoh who co-signed the historic Kadesh Treaty to establish peace with the Hittite Empire.
Hattusilli III
He was the Hittite King who participated in the formalization of the peace agreement with Egypt around 1269 B.C.E.
The details
Recovered during excavations at the royal palace in Hattusa, the inscription required one year of study before researchers verified its significance. The find contributes to the broader collection of Kadesh treaty records first discovered at the site in 1906.
Timeline
1269 B.C.E.: Date when the Kadesh Peace Treaty was formally signed.
1906: Year when the first copy of the Kadesh treaty was discovered in Hattusa.
2026: The public announcement regarding the new fragment discovery.
Culture Shift
This discovery updates the record established by the 1906 discovery of the Kadesh treaty at Hattusa by providing a previously missing section of the text. It highlights the ongoing scholarly effort to reconstruct ancient diplomatic archives in Turkey.
The study of this fragment offers a deeper understanding of ancient legal frameworks regarding human rights and property, which remain relevant to modern societal studies. Residents and students in the Çorum province can expect continued interest in the archaeological site as research progresses.
The takeaway
The discovery of this fragment demonstrates how ongoing archaeological work continues to fill gaps in our understanding of early international agreements. It serves as a reminder of the long-standing human endeavor to codify peace and resolve conflicts through diplomatic treaties.
What happens next
Researchers are continuing excavations at the royal palace site in Büyükkale, hoping that further digging will yield the remaining pieces of this specific tablet copy.
Further reading
Discover more about the Historical context of ancient diplomatic records.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tovima.
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