Arslantepe Höyüğü Malatya’nın 7 km. kuzeydoğusunda, Fırat Irmağı’nın (Karakaya Baraj Gölü) batı kıyısı yakınındaki Orduzu Beldesi’nde yer alan Arslantepe Höyüğü’nün kültür dolgusu 30 m. yüksekliğindedir. M.Ö. 5000 yıllarından M.S. 11. yy.’a kadar yerleşim görmüştür. Höyükte yapılan kazılar sonucunda; M.Ö. 3300-3000 yıllarına ait bir kerpiç saray, M.Ö. 3600-3500’lere ait tapınak, iki bini aşkın mühür baskısı, kaliteli metal eserler bulunmuştur. M.Ö. 2000 yılında Arslantepe, Fırat nehrine doğru genişleyen Hitit İmparatorluğu’nun Melidia Meliddu adıyla şehri olarak kullanılmıştır. Bu yerleşim tepenin kuzeydoğu yamacına açılan şehir kapısı ve avlusuyla Orta Anadolu Hitit kentlerine benzeyen, etrafı toprak surla çevrili bir Geç Hitit şehri olarak kullanılmıştır. M.Ö. 5. binden - M.Ö. 712 tarihindeki Asur istilasına kadar yerleşim yeri olarak varlığını sürdüren Arslantepe, daha sonra bir süreliğine terk edilmiş, M.S. 5-6. yy.’lar arasında ise Roma dönemi köyü olarak kullanılmış ve daha sonra Bizans nekropolü olarak yerleşimini tamamlamıştır.
------------------
Arslantepe Mound is 7 km from Malatya. The cultural embankment of the Arslantepe Mound, located in the Orduzu Town near the west coast of the Euphrates River (Karakaya Dam Lake) in the northeast, is 30 m. in height. B.C. 5000 B.C. It was settled until the 11th century. As a result of excavations at the mound; B.C. An adobe palace from 3300-3000 BC. The temple belonging to 3600-3500s, more than two thousand seal prints, quality metal works were found. B.C. In 2000, Arslantepe was used as the city of the Hittite Empire, which expanded towards the Euphrates River, under the name Melidia Meliddu. This settlement has been used as a Late Hittite city, which is similar to the Central Anatolian Hittite cities with its city gate and courtyard opening to the northeastern slope of the hill, surrounded by earth walls. B.C. From the 5th millennium BC. Arslantepe, which continued its existence as a settlement until the Assyrian invasion in 712, was later abandoned for a while, M.S. 5-6. It was used as a Roman period village between the 19th century and later completed its settlement as a Byzantine necropolis.
------------------
Arslantepe Mound is 7 km from Malatya. The cultural embankment of the Arslantepe Mound, located in the Orduzu Town near the west coast of the Euphrates River (Karakaya Dam Lake) in the northeast, is 30 m. in height. B.C. 5000 B.C. It was settled until the 11th century. As a result of excavations at the mound; B.C. An adobe palace from 3300-3000 BC. The temple belonging to 3600-3500s, more than two thousand seal prints, quality metal works were found. B.C. In 2000, Arslantepe was used as the city of the Hittite Empire, which expanded towards the Euphrates River, under the name Melidia Meliddu. This settlement has been used as a Late Hittite city, which is similar to the Central Anatolian Hittite cities with its city gate and courtyard opening to the northeastern slope of the hill, surrounded by earth walls. B.C. From the 5th millennium BC. Arslantepe, which continued its existence as a settlement until the Assyrian invasion in 712, was later abandoned for a while, M.S. 5-6. It was used as a Roman period village between the 19th century and later completed its settlement as a Byzantine necropolis.
