Archaeologists have identified a new fragment of the Kadesh Peace Treaty at Hattusha, the ancient Hittite capital in central Turkey, adding another piece to one of the ancient world’s best-known diplomatic agreements. The cuneiform tablet fragment was found near Building E in Büyükkale, the area that once housed the Hittite royal palace. The discovery was made during excavations at the Boğazköy-Hattusha archaeological site in Çorum province.
Researchers spent about a year studying the inscription, which survives on one side of the clay fragment. Their analysis identified it as part of an Akkadian copy of the treaty concluded between Hittite King Hattusili III and Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II.
The fragment preserves parts of Articles 12 through 20. These sections address people who fled one kingdom and sought refuge in the other. Some of the text is broken or missing. However, researchers identified references to people fleeing Egypt and Hittite territory. The surviving lines also include statements concerning the non-destruction of homes.
Treaty helped establish peace between ancient powers
The Kadesh Peace Treaty followed years of rivalry between Egypt and the Hittite Empire. The two powers had fought at the Battle of Kadesh in the 13th century B.C.
The later agreement established diplomatic terms between them. Previous research into the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty has shown that its provisions went beyond ending hostilities. They also covered military cooperation and the return of people who fled across borders.
New Fragment of the Kadesh Treaty Found at Hattusa
Excavators at Hattusa, the Hittite capital near Boğazkale in Çorum, have identified a clay tablet fragment from the peace treaty between Hattusili III and Ramesses II. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the… pic.twitter.com/rRFvSO5W1y
— Ancient Content (@HistContent) September 21, 2026
The newly found fragment belongs to an Akkadian version of the agreement. Akkadian was widely used for diplomacy across the ancient Near East. The treaty also survives in Egypt, where its text was carved in hieroglyphs on temple walls.
Researchers hope to complete ancient copies
At Hattusha, fragments of clay tablets containing the Akkadian text were first uncovered during excavations between 1906 and 1912. Archaeological work at the ancient capital has since produced thousands of cuneiform tablets. A discovery at Hattusha revealed a previously unknown Indo-European language preserved within a Hittite ritual text. Previously discovered pieces of the peace treaty are held in museum collections in Istanbul, Ankara, Berlin and St. Petersburg.
The new fragment could help researchers reconstruct more of the treaty copies once kept at the Hittite capital. Excavations in Büyükkale are continuing, with archaeologists hoping to uncover additional missing sections.
Other discoveries have also shown the importance of cuneiform records for understanding Hittite political life. In southern Turkey, 3,500-year-old cuneiform tablets and seal impressions recently revealed evidence linked to a previously unknown Hittite prince.
Discovery announced on World Peace Day
Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the finding Sept. 21, World Peace Day. “The statements regarding the non-destruction of people’s homes carry a powerful message from thousands of years ago to the present day,” Ersoy said. He said the discovery highlighted Anatolia’s long history in peace and diplomacy.
Ersoy also referred to Palestinians in his announcement. He said the ancient document serves as a reminder of the responsibility to protect human life and dignity and expressed hope that people can live in safety and peace. He also congratulated the excavation team and researchers involved in studying the fragment.
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