Değirmentepe
Değirmentepe · Degirmentepe (Malatya) · Değirmentepe Höyük
Ubaid-related Late Chalcolithic (c.4200–3400 BCE)·North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) → Late Chalcolithic Transcaucasian·🇹🇷 Malatya Province, Battalgazi, Upper Euphrates, Turkey
About
About Değirmentepe
Low Ubaid-related mound north of Malatya on the Tohma plain, excavated 1978–86 by Ufuk Esin before Karakaya dam. Central 32 m tripartite hall with buttresses, clay sealings, tokens and wall paintings copies the Eridu temple plan — key to Ubaid spread debate before the Uruk takeover of Arslantepe.
Why it mattersSouthernmost Ubaid-related tripartite centre in Anatolia showing Mesopotamian elite architecture copied in Malatya at the eve of Uruk expansion.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ubaid expansion — colonization vs emulation?
Theories
- 01Stein Ubaid emulation model vs Algaze Uruk world system
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Ubaid-related centre c.4200 BCE
- Period
- Ubaid-related Late Chalcolithic (c.4200–3400 BCE)
- Culture
- North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) → Late Chalcolithic Transcaucasian
- Builders
- North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) communities
- Purpose
- Chalcolithic chiefly centre with tripartite cult-administrative quarter
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.4200 BCE
Tripartite cult-administrative complex built
c.3800 BCE
Fire destruction with sealings in situ
1978
Esin rescue excavation
1986
Last season before dam fringe
On the ground
Structures & features
38.4500° N · 38.2200° E · 850 m · 3 mapped features
- Değirmentepe — West workshopgateKey sub-area of Değirmentepe (Ubaid-related Late Chalcolithic) showing North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) horizon38.4494° N · 38.2198° E
- Değirmentepe — Ceremonial buildingmoundKey sub-area of Değirmentepe (Ubaid-related Late Chalcolithic) showing North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) horizon38.4502° N · 38.2204° E
- Değirmentepe — Storage quarterstructureKey sub-area of Değirmentepe (Ubaid-related Late Chalcolithic) showing North Mesopotamian Ubaid-related (Değirmentepe) horizon38.4510° N · 38.2210° E
Gallery