Arslantepe Mound and Its Historical Background
Located in Malatya, Arslantepe Mound sheds light on the history of civilization with its uninterrupted settlement traces and ancient palace.
Located in the Battalgazi district of Malatya, Arslantepe Mound sheds light on human history with its approximately 7,000-year uninterrupted settlement history and the world's oldest palace structure.
The Importance of Arslantepe Mound
Located in the Battalgazi district of Malatya, Arslantepe Mound is among the most important centers of human history with its approximately 7,000-year uninterrupted settlement history.
Excavation Works and Management
Ongoing excavation works for years have been led by Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli, revealing the traces of the transition process from settled life to the state system.
Characteristics of the Mudbrick Palace
Built of mudbrick, plastered and decorated with wall paintings, this structure reveals the management approach of the period and the birth of the state system.
The Opportunity Created by the Fire
As a result of the major fire that occurred thousands of years ago, the palace was destroyed, but the preservation of the items inside has been a great opportunity for archaeologists.
Artifacts Preserved in the Museum
Approximately 5,000 objects unearthed during the excavations are preserved in the Malatya Archaeology Museum and shed light on the social life of the period.
Seals as a Unwritten Archive
The seals and seal impressions found form an almost unwritten archive regarding the administrative workings of the period when writing was not yet in use.
Throne Area and Management System
The throne area at the end of the courtyard shows that the palace had a centralized administrative mechanism and was ruled by a chief or a king.
Expectations for the Future
It is anticipated that as the excavations at the mound, which is contemporaneous with the early state systems in southern Iraq, deepen, the past of the center may be pushed back even further.