Hittite administrative texts from Tapigga / Maşat-Höyük: A brief overview

The excavations carried out by the Turkish archaeologists at the site of Maşat Höyük (ancient Tapigga) in 1973–1981 brought to light a Hittite cuneiform archive which consisted of more than 100 tablets. The administrative letters of local officials were the most numerous among the epigraphic finds. Another important part of the corpus was represented by the accounting texts (ca. 20%). This figure contrasts with the data on the Hittite archives in whole according to which ephemeral documents amount only to 3% of the textual record. The studies by G. del Monte, H.A. Hoffner, M. Marazzi and other scholars dedicated to the Maşat texts revealed new facts and allowed a fresh look at the already known aspects of the economic and administrative system of the Hittite kingdom. Thus, they attest to the practice of blinding the prisoners of war and their use as the work force at mills. The captives also served as hostages who were given back for ransom. Local officials of Tapigga organized public works and provided rations for the workers. The latter was done according to the norms set in the Hittite laws. Some of the documents are dedicated to tax collection and inventory of the state assets. Of special interest are the documents dealing with agriculture: they shed light on the farmer techniques, planning of crops and crop yield. The administrative texts from Maşat Höyük are marked with a special terminology. The present article offers a survey of all these issues.