A complete Hittite cuneiform tablet interpreting bird flights was discovered in Samuha, Turkey. The text covers the entire tablet and signifies Hittite divination practices. The tablet differentiates from others due to a central hole with traces of rope, suggesting it was hung. Samuha served as a strategic location for the Hittites and a center for the goddess Ishtar, with the settlement's history spanning from an Assyrian trading colony to a significant religious hub over millennia. This find contributes to understanding Hittite ritual culture and their communication with the divine.
The cuneiform text covers the front, back and edges of the tablet, indicating its extensive use in Hittite ritual culture and divination practices.
The text refers to the flight of birds, a key element in Hittite divination, which facilitated communication between the human and divine realms.
Traces of rope material and a wear pattern confirm that the tablet was likely suspended, indicating its significance in ritualistic applications.
Samuha was a major strategic and cult site under the Hittites, becoming an important religious center in the Near and Middle East.
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