Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy announced that a very important tablet had come to light during the work carried out at Aççana Mound, known as Eski Alalah, in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay. Stating that
according to initial readings, the Akkadian cuneiform tablet, which dates back to the 15th century BC, contains records regarding a large amount of furniture shopping, Minister Ersoy said in a post on his social media accounts, “We believe that this tablet, weighing 28 grams, will provide a new perspective in terms of understanding the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age.”
Congratulating the teams of the Excavations Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their devoted work in finding the historical heritage, Minister Ersoy said that they were working with great meticulousness to carry the rich heritage of Anatolia to future generations.
Historical Heritage Tells About the Economic Structure and State System of Its Era
The tablet, found during the restoration work carried out after the earthquake within the scope of the Old Alalah City excavations in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay, sheds light on its period with its Akkadian cuneiform writing.
According to the first reading of the tablet, it is understood that it dates back to the 15th century BC and is an administrative record of a large amount of furniture purchase.
The tablet offers a new perspective in understanding the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age.
The tablet, which was studied in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jacob Lauinger and doctoral student Zeynep Türker, draws attention with its measurements of 4.2 by 3.5 cm, its thickness of 1.6 cm and its weight of 27.85 grams.
Linguists continue their studies on the numbers in the find, the first lines of which record the purchase of large amounts of wooden tables, chairs and stools, and issues such as who bought or gave them to.
source: ktb.gov.tr