History and archaeology / Mound (höyük)
Arslantepe Mound
Battalgazi, Malatya
A large mound toured as an open-air museum, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, with settlement layers from the Chalcolithic Age to the Byzantine period.
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Its story
The mound near Orduzu, about 7 km northeast of the city center, has about 30 meters of cultural deposits, and settlement continued from the 6th millennium BC to the 11th century AD. After a French team uncovered the Late Hittite palace in the 1930s, excavations have been carried out by Sapienza University of Rome since 1961. The mudbrick palace dated to the late 4th millennium BC, thousands of seal impressions and metal weapons counted among the oldest swords in the world make it important for understanding early state organization. In the site, laid out as an open-air museum in 2011, you can see walkways, the mudbrick palace under a protective roof and, at the entrance, copies of the lion statues and the king's statue. The visitor center opened on 4 October 2025 completes the visit with simulation and exhibition areas.
Key facts
- Period
- 6th millennium BC – 11th century AD
- Admission
- Paid (Müzekart valid)
- Getting there
- Battalgazi, about 7 km from central Malatya
- Visit duration
- 1.5–2 hours
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Day trip
- Traveling with kids
Location
38.38212, 38.36122
Where to eat nearby
No food & drink venues listed nearby.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://www.malatya.gov.tr/arslantepe-hoyugu | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melid | https://www.gazetebirlik.com/kultur-sanat/dunya-mirasi-arslantepe-artik-daha-erisilebilir-yeni-karsilama-merkezi-ziyarete-acildi/907500 | https://www.goturkiye.com/malatya/see | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/183451728