Kharpoot

Kharpoot is a historic settlement and archaeological site on a hilltop in Elazığ Province, eastern Turkey, standing roughly 1270 meters (4170 feet) above sea level. Stone walls surround remnants of houses, cisterns, and pathways that connect the fortress area to agricultural plains below along the Murat River.

People lived here as early as 2000 BCE, and in 938 the Byzantines built a military stronghold on the hilltop. Control then shifted between the Artuqids and the Seljuks before the area eventually came under Ottoman rule.

The name likely comes from an Armenian term meaning rock fortress, still reflected in how locals describe the hilltop. A 12th-century mosque and an old church stand within the complex, showing how different communities shaped the religious life here over time.

A path from the valley leads up to the fortress, and sturdy shoes help on uneven ground where stones and rubble mark the old streets. Early morning or late afternoon visits work better in hot weather, when the sun is less intense and the temperature more comfortable.

Buzluk Cave nearby forms natural ice year-round, once used for cooling and storing food. Some stone structures display building techniques typical of Byzantines, Seljuks, or Ottomans respectively, offering a kind of construction history in stone.

Location: Elazığ Province

Elevation above the sea: 1,270 m

GPS coordinates: 38.70389,39.25000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26