Korucutepe
Korucutepe · Korucu Tepe · Korucutepe Höyük
Chalcolithic to Ottoman (c.5000 BCE–1500 CE; Kurgan elite 2600–2300 BCE)·Chalcolithic → Early Bronze Kurgan → Hittite → Urartian → Byzantine·🇹🇷 Elazığ Province, Altınova, Eski Aşağı İçme, Turkey
About
About Korucutepe
Large mound at Eski Aşağı İçme 30 km east of Elazığ, excavated by Maurits van Loon (Keban). Chalcolithic to Byzantine 5 ka sequence, but renowned for Early Bronze (2600–2300 BCE) kurgan shaft graves with gold diadems, bronze weapons and Maikop-style pottery under tumuli north of town — key Transcaucasian link.
Why it mattersFamous Early Bronze kurgan elite tombs with Caucasian-Maikop affinities, evidence for Transcaucasian metallurgy and Hittite levels.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Kurgan elite ethnicity — local vs Caucasian influx?
Theories
- 01Caucasian kurgan migration model (Burney) vs elite emulation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Chalcolithic village c.5000 BCE; kurgan elite cemetery EBA
- Period
- Chalcolithic to Ottoman (c.5000 BCE–1500 CE; Kurgan elite 2600–2300 BCE)
- Culture
- Chalcolithic → Early Bronze Kurgan → Hittite → Urartian → Byzantine
- Builders
- Chalcolithic communities
- Purpose
- Altınova centre with Early Bronze kurgan elite tombs controlling metal route
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.5000 BCE
Chalcolithic village
c.2600 BCE
Kurgan elite cemetery constructed
1968
van Loon Keban rescue
1974
Reservoir fringes mound
On the ground
Structures & features
38.5890° N · 39.5170° E · 850 m · 3 mapped features
Korucutepe — Kiln field
templeKey sub-area of Korucutepe (Chalcolithic to Ottoman) showing Chalcolithic horizon
38.5882° N · 39.5167° EKorucutepe — Palatial compound
fortificationKey sub-area of Korucutepe (Chalcolithic to Ottoman) showing Chalcolithic horizon
38.5890° N · 39.5173° EKorucutepe — North sector
workshopKey sub-area of Korucutepe (Chalcolithic to Ottoman) showing Chalcolithic horizon
38.5898° N · 39.5179° E
Gallery