Archaeologists in Turkey made a stunning discovery while completing earthquake restoration work – which is set to ‘offer a new perspective’ on life in 15th-century BC.
The Akkadian cuneiform tablet, which was found in the ancient archaeological site of Aççana Höyük, dates back thousands of years.
A cuneiform is a proper way of writing distinct from the alphabet, according to London’s British Museum.
The relic measures 4.2 to 3.5 cm and is 1.6 cm in thickness, according to a press release by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.
It is thought to be an administrative record – or shopping receipt – and details a large amount of furniture purchases.
Archaeologists in Turkey made a stunning discovery while completing earthquake restoration work – which is set to ‘offer a new perspective’ on life in 15th-century BC
‘A very important tablet came to light during the ongoing work in Aççana Höyük, known as “Old Alalah” in Hatay’s Reyhanlı district,’ Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, wrote.
‘According to first readings, B.C. The Akkadian cuneiform tablet, dating back to the 15th century, contains records of large amounts of furniture purchases.
‘We believe that this tablet, weighing 28 grams, will offer a new perspective to understand the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age.’
The minister noted the newly discovered artifact appears to be written in Akkadian, a type of cuneiform.
According to British Museum, cuneiform script is the oldest form of writing in the world.
The website notes the tablet does not have ‘letters’ – but instead it uses between 600 and 1,000 characters impressed on clay to spell words by dividing them up into syllables.
In 2018, researchers came across a similar clay tablet that was etched with a complaint from a disgruntled customer.
The shopper had purchased some copper and was apparently dissatisfied, sharing their thoughts with a shop keeper named Ea-nāṣir in the ancient city state of Ur, in around 1750 BCE.
The minister noted the newly discovered artifact appears to be written in Akkadian, a type of cuneiform
Earlier in the year, archaeologists have discovered what is thought to be the world’s oldest calendar also in Turkey.
Etched in a 12,000-year-old stone pillar at the mysterious Göbekli Tepe site, with experts saying it could rewrite our timeline of civilization.
The timekeeping system strongly suggests ancient humans had accurate ways to keep time 10,000 years before it was documented in Ancient Greece in 150 BC.
Last week, archaeologists may have proven the existence of a long-lost temple where Jesus is said to have performed miracles.
Several passages in the New Testament describe how he preached and healed the sick inside a synagogue in the ancient Israeli city of Chorazin.
Jews from around the world have been traveling to a holy site in Korazim National Park, in the north, where historical records placed the temple.
A synagogue built in 380 AD was discovered in the early 1900s, but there was no physical evidence dating it back to the times of Jesus – until now.
While excavating the synagogue uncovered in 1905, a team of archaeologists uncovered the ruins of an even older temple buried beneath.
