On Saturday, August 8, 2026, a new visitor route was inaugurated at Arslantepe, in Malatya province, Türkiye, one of the key archaeological sites for understanding the emergence of the earliest forms of state organisatio

The ceremony took place as part of the Türkiye Culture Route Festival (Kültür Yolu Festivali), bringing together Turkish authorities, Italian diplomatic representatives, representatives of Sapienza University of Rome, and the Italian Archaeological Mission in Eastern Anatolia. The new exhibition route was developed by the Turkish authorities in collaboration with the Sapienza Mission, which provided the scientific content and supervised work at the site. The Mission has conducted uninterrupted research at Arslantepe since 1961, overseeing excavation, study, conservation and enhancement of the archaeological complex, as well as ongoing public engagement activities.

The inauguration also marked the extension of the protective roof over the 3400 BC mud-brick palatial complex. The extension protects the most recently excavated part of the building and allows visitors to access new areas via walkways and information panels in Turkish, English and Italian. The refurbished display at the Malatya Archaeological Museum was also unveiled. The museum was damaged by the earthquake that struck the region in February 2023 and houses more than 4,000 finds from the Arslantepe excavations, offering key evidence of the site’s long history and the communities that inhabited it.

“This inauguration reflects the deeper purpose of Sapienza’s work at Arslantepe since 1961: research that goes beyond excavation to encompass conservation, shared knowledge and giving the public the opportunity to engage with an extraordinary heritage site. The project began with Salvatore Puglisi and continued through an exceptional history of female scientific leadership, from Alba Palmieri to Marcella Frangipane and, today, director Francesca Balossi Restelli. Generations of archaeologists and scholars have helped make Arslantepe a key site for understanding the emergence of the earliest forms of state organisation and centralised power. My thanks go to them, to the entire research team, to the conservators, and to the Italian and Turkish institutions that have supported this journey. The new visitor route and the refurbished display at the Malatya Archaeological Museum now make this history more accessible—a history that belongs not only to the scientific community, but to humanity as a whole. This is the value of archaeology: understanding the past, preserving it and bringing it into the present. It is also a tangible form of scientific and cultural diplomacy, fostering dialogue, trust and cooperation between countries and communities over time,” said Rector Antonella Polimeni.

Sapienza’s research has played a key role in reconstructing the development of the settlement and identifying the palatial complex as one of the most significant examples of the emergence of a complex, hierarchical society organised around centralised power. The continuity of research and conservation work enabled the site to open to the public in 2011 and contributed to its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021. An essential contribution to the conservation of the palatial complex, exceptionally preserved in parts of its original plasterwork, has been made over the years by conservators from the Italian Ministry of Culture working with the Mission. Since last year, a digital documentation project has also been underway in collaboration with the University of Tuscia. Using precision equipment and cutting-edge methods, the project enables continuous monitoring of the monument’s state of conservation. The opening of the new visitor route follows the opening of the visitor centre opposite the site in October 2025, marking a further milestone in the long-standing scientific and cultural cooperation between Italy and Türkiye. The new improvements broaden opportunities to explore and engage with one of eastern Anatolia’s most important archaeological sites.

Arslantepe and the origins of the earliest forms of statehood

Arslantepe, meaning “Lion Hill”, is a settlement in eastern Anatolia, located on the Malatya plain, a few kilometres from the Euphrates. Its history dates back to at least 5300 BC and, through various phases and periods of interruption, continues into the medieval period.

One of its most significant phases dates to the 4th millennium BC, when Arslantepe developed into a complex, hierarchical society characterised by increasingly centralised power. Around 3400 BC, the monumental palatial complex was built, bringing administrative, economic, political and ritual activities together within a single structure.

The emergence of this centralised organisation at Arslantepe predates the introduction of writing, which developed around the same time in neighbouring Mesopotamia, partly in response to the administrative needs of newly emerging urban societies. This phase ended around two centuries later in a violent fire, after which pastoral groups settled at the site. A second major period of development came during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, between 1600 and 700 BC, when the site, known as Melid, became a centre first associated with the Hittite Empire and later with an independent kingdom, before being conquered by the Neo-Assyrians.

The Sapienza Archaeological Mission

Sapienza has been conducting research at Arslantepe since 1961 through a Mission supported by our university's Large Excavations Fund and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Founded by Salvatore Puglisi and subsequently led by Alba Palmieri, the Mission has been characterised for more than half a century by the leadership of distinguished female scholars. Marcella Frangipane, who has worked at Arslantepe since 1976 and directed the excavations from 1990, helped establish the site as an international scientific reference point. The Mission is now directed by Francesca Balossi Restelli.

In 2015, Arslantepe was added to the tentative list of sites nominated for UNESCO recognition. In 2021, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the culmination of a long process of research, conservation and international cooperation.