History and archaeology / Archaeological site
Altıntepe Urartian Fortress and Archaeological Site
Üzümlü, Erzincan
An Urartian fortress on a volcanic hill in the Erzincan plain, known for its temple, apadana and chamber tombs; it also contains a mosaic-floored church from the Byzantine period.
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Its story
The settlement on a volcanic cone rising 60 meters above the plain, at about the 12th kilometer of the Erzincan–Erzurum road, attracted attention in 1938 during railway construction. Excavations between 1959 and 1968 led by Tahsin Özgüç uncovered the walls and gate of an Urartian fortress dated to the 9th–7th centuries BC, a temple, a columned reception hall (apadana), a storage building, an open-air temple and three underground stone-built chamber tombs on the southern slope of the hill. In excavations and restorations carried out since 2003 by a team from Atatürk University, a three-aisled Byzantine church notable for its colorful floor mosaics with geometric, plant and animal figures has also been brought to light. A significant part of the finds is displayed at the Erzincan Museum.
Key facts
- Period
- Urartian (9th–7th century BC), Byzantine
- Admission
- Archaeological site
- Getting there
- Erzincan–Erzurum road, about 12–15 km from the center
- Visit duration
- 1 hour
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Day trip
Location
39.69641, 39.64667
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altıntepe | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt%C4%B1ntepe | https://goturkiye.com/erzincan/see | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Üzümlü | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/130188095