The Hieroglyphic Luwian Rock-Inscription of Malpınar

Extract

A notable new rock-inscription has been discovered in the vilayet of Adıyaman, which shows clear links with the Neo-Hittite dynasty of Kummuh already known from the BOYBEYPINARI blocks and the fragments from the productive site of Ancoz. The site of the new inscription adjacent to the village of Malpınar was discovered by Mustafa Kalaç, together with his students Selahattin Aksu (komiser) and Hüseyin Sayıcı, in September 1979 during a survey conducted by the Lower Euphrates Project of the Middle East Technical University. The discovery was reported by M. Kalaç to the Xth Turkish Congress of History held in Ankara, 22–6 September 1986. Hawkins had the opportunity to visit the inscription in October 1986 and August 1987. Travelling from Adıyaman to Akpınar (22 km. as the crow flies), past Kuyulu (alias Turuş, 9 km.), one reaches Malpınar on the east bank of the Göksu Çayı (8 km.). See Fig. 1. The Göksu, flowing south, joins the Euphrates near Gümüşkaya, some 35 km. downstream from Samsat.