A remarkable discovery has been made at the archaeological site of Açana Höyük in ancient Alalah, located in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay, Turkey. A 3,500-year-old tablet written in Akkadian cuneiform was found, revealing records of purchases of a large amount of furniture. This discovery offers a unique insight into Bronze Age trading practices.
Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Ersoy, shared the news of this significant discovery. According to him, the tablet dates back to the 15th century BC and contains details of commercial transactions involving items such as wooden tables, chairs and benches.
Although linguists are still deciphering the details, including the exact values and identities of the parties involved, the first readings already provide a fascinating insight into trade at the time.
Ersoy commented: “We believe that this small tablet will offer new insights into understanding the economic structure and state system of the late Bronze Age.” He also congratulated the teams involved: “I congratulate the teams from the Excavations Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their dedicated work in uncovering this historical heritage and for their efforts to preserve Anatolia’s rich legacy for future generations.”
The teams collaborated with associate professor Dr. Jacob Lauinger from Johns Hopkins University and PhD student Zeynep Türker to study the tablet. Measuring between 4.2 and 3.5 cm, with a thickness of 1.6 cm and weighing 27.85 grams, this small artifact is a valuable addition to knowledge about the commercial history of Anatolia. The discovery and study of this tablet not only helps preserve the region’s rich heritage, but also provides a deeper understanding of daily life and economic practices thousands of years ago.
