Works shed light on Aslantepe Tumulus

MALATYA - Anadolu Agency

The 5,000 year-old Aslantepe tumulus is home the world’s oldest palace.

Excavations have begun at the 5,000 year-old Aslantepe Tumulus, located in the eastern province of Malatya. The head of the excavations, Professor Marcella Frangipane from the University of Rome La Sapienze, said the works were ongoing with a team of 20 people in the Orduzu district.

“Last year, we found a very good building in the south of the ancient site. This building dates back to the Old Bronze Age from 2,200 B.C. This building is on the top of the hill. It shows that Aslantepe was an important center. Hopefully we will completely reveal this building this year. Here there is also a wall. The building is below this wall. At the moment, we are removing this wall. We have found two small copper cups in the base of the building. They are currently in the Malatya Archaeology Museum,” Fringipane said.

She also said they had found a king’s tomb at the ancient site a few years ago. “These findings are in the museum. There are two major systems in Aslantepe. It had connections with Mesopotamia and had the same system and culture with Mesopotamia. Then something happened in this area just like a war and this system ended and connections with Anatolia started,” Fringipane said.

Malatya Culture and Tourism Director Derviş Özbay said the mud brick palace, unearthed in Aslantepe and known as the world’s first palace, had been turned into an open air museum.