Melid (Arslantepe) – Malatya, Türkiye
Melid/Arslantepe is a large tell on the Malatya plain with continuous occupation from the Chalcolithic through the Iron Age. Notable phases include the Late Chalcolithic palace (Level VI A) with wall paintings and stamp seals, the Early Bronze Age “Temple C” complex, and Neo-Hittite monumental gate reliefs (lions, rulers) from the Arslantepe palace. The site reveals early state formation, literacy, metallurgy, and complex administration. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List (2021) for its testimony to early political organization and monumental art.
Sources
- UNESCO – https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1628
- Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arslantepe_Mound
- Italian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza) – Arslantepe project reports