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Pentateuch and in Kings provides a cue. “Hittite” in the Patriarchal narratives refer to individuals
and their immediate families exhibiting enough distinction from the local populace to be
associated by the narrator with the northerly peoples identified during the conquest and
subsequent monarchy.
Artifacts
Distinctly Hittite artifacts in Palestine are rare, a fact which also supports the biblical use
of “Hittite.” Collins’ succinct summary (2007, 216–218) argues that the Megiddo ivory and
Aphek bulla are products of Hittite-Egyptian diplomatic contacts during the 13c. The rest, she
suggests, are remnants left by their respective Hittite owners while doing business in the region.
Her conclusion is apropos of the material data:
[N]o migration is necessary to explain the Hittites in the Bible… the Hittites who came to
northern Palestine during the pax Hethitica-Egyptiaca, whether their stay was long or
short, were sufficient in quantity and, more importantly, in quality to explain the level of
cultural transmission that is evident. … But at no time were conditions more perfect or
Palestine, which was perched on the cusp of a new era, more poised to absorb new
influences than in the latter half of the thirteenth century (2007, 218).
The surveyed textual data is consistent with the small number of discovered artifacts, provided in
the following short list, and some fall on well traveled thoroughfares (e.g., Megiddo and Aphek):
1. Ivory plaque: Megiddo 13c palace “treasury” (Loud 1939, 10, 14, Plate 11; Novacek
2011, 56–57) 50
2. Bulla: Aphek (Antipatris) LBA Egyptian governor’s residence (Singer 1977) 51
3. Steatite stamp seal: Megiddo 13c residential (Loud 1948, 156, Plate 162:7; Singer
1995) 52
4. Seals and 2 silver signet rings: Tell el-Far’ah (south) Ø13c (Singer 2003) 53
5. Bronze signet ring: Tel Nami 13c grave piece (of a priest?) (Singer 2011a) 54
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50 This piece is no doubt a luxury item, perhaps evidencing trade or the presence of an Egyptian official.
Regarding its authenticity as Hittite see the bibliography in Kantor (1956, 155–56, n8-P. 19).
51 This bulla may evidence an Egyptian official receiving a trade item (Singer 2011b).
52 The seal boasts the PN and title “Anuziti the charioteer,” referring to a member of a diplomatic envoy.
53 These rings bear the names “Zazuwa” and “Ana.”
54 The grave may have belonged to a priest in light of the presence of other cultic items. The ring bears the
Hurrian PN “Ushe” and is similar to the Tell el-Far’ah rings.