Aslantepe Tumulus & Open Air Museum

Aslantepe Tumulus & Open Air Museum

Located in the Battalgazi district northeast of Malatya, the Aslantepe Tumulus is a historical site that dates back to the Chalcolithic and late Hittite periods. The tumulus, one of ten in the Orduzu area, was a densely populated Hittite settlement from 1900 to 1200 BC. Italian archaeologists initiated excavations in 1932, and the site has been excavated intermittently ever since.

Aslantepe Tumulus & Open Air Museum

The excavations have uncovered traces of the Bronze Age and Hittite Empire, including palaces belonging to Assyrian and Hittite rulers. Some of these artifacts have been exhibited at the Ankara Archeology Museum. The extensive excavations of the palace complex provide valuable insights into the lives of the first elite citizens of this civilization, offering a complete understanding of their activities from contrasting perspectives.

Archaeologists have accurately reconstructed the site, providing an understanding of life as an elite during the period when centralized government and control of the economy were being established. The Aslantepe Open Air Museum showcases the anthropological and historical achievements of ancient Near Eastern civilizations and illustrates the transitional period in human society.

In 2021, Aslantepe Tumulus and Open Air Museum were added to UNESCO's World Heritage Site list, recognizing their cultural significance and historical value.