Three Hittite Inscribed Artifacts from Erimtan Museum

Abstract

This study presents the first scholarly edition of three inscribed artifacts from Hittite Anatolia, currently preserved in the Erimtan Museum in Ankara. The artifacts under examination consist of a seal, a seal impression, and a fragmentary cuneiform tablet. RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) studies have been conducted to obtain clear images of the inscriptions on the artifacts, and their drawings have been completed for publication. A proposed reading of the seal owner’s name is provided for both the seal and the seal impression, offering insight into the individuals associated with these objects. These identifications contribute to the broader study of glyptic in the Hittite period. In addition, the preliminary reading of the tablet fragment, despite its heavily eroded state, suggests a possible association with the corpus of the AN.TAH. ŠUM festival. While this identification remains tentative due to the fragmentary nature of the text, it offers an opportunity to investigate potential connections between this document and Hittite religious texts. The analysis of these three artifacts not only expands the extant corpus of Hittite inscriptions but also renders these artifacts accessible to all through their publication. This study exemplifies the significance of examining artifacts from private museums. Systematic documentation of these artifacts can yield valuable data for refining scholarly reconstructions of Hittite history and culture. Further research may elucidate the historical and philological significance of these artifacts using a comparative analysis with securely provenanced materials.

This article has been reviewed by at least two reviewers using a double blind peer review model. A similarity check was performed to confirm that it was free of plagiarism.

Conceiving the Study: Author-1 (%50) - Author-2 (%50)
Data Collection : Author-1 (%50) - Author-2 (%50)
Data Analysis : Author-1 (%50) - Author-2 (%50)
Writing up : Author-1 (%50) - Author-2 (%50)
Submission and Revision : Author-1 (%50) - Author-2 (%50)

The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles were complied with during the preparation of this study and all the works referred are mentioned in the bibliography.
Official authorization for the study and publication of the aforementioned artifacts was obtained from the Directorate of the Erimtan Museum on 13 November 2024.

belleten@ttk.gov.tr

No artificial intelligence-based tools or applications were used in the preparation of this study. The entire content of the manuscript was produced by the authors in accordance with scientific research methods and academic ethical principles.

This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC).