The stele, exhibited at the Sivas Archaeological Museum, contains information on four generations of Hittites.
Prof. Dr. Bora Uysal said that the İspekçir stele was found near the village of İspekçir on the north bank of the Tohma Stream between Malatya and Darende, and that it took its name from there.
Uysal, who stated that the stele had both depictions and Luwian hieroglyphic writings, said, "It is said that the villagers found a rectangular prism-shaped artifact with a cubic structure. It has depictions and inscriptions on three sides, and its back surface is plain. There are figures on three surfaces."
Uysal explained that after the Hittites collapsed around 1200 BC, a number of small states emerged that continued Hittite characteristics, and noted the following:
"One of the largest of these is Carchemish. From 1200 onwards, the territory of Carchemish was quite large, including Malatya. Even when the Hittite state was being established, the rulers of Carchemish were in the position of a kind of petty king. They were appointed as rulers from the Hittite royal family. In the 1200s, a king named Kuzi Teshub, the king of Carchemish, ruled Malatya. He also ruled Malatya. He appointed one of his relatives, Arnuvantis I, as the ruler or petty king of Malatya. One of the figures is the grandson of Kuzi Teshub. The person who commissioned the stele is Arnuvantis II, who is also the grandson of Arnuvantis I. The third figure is the wife of Arnuvantis I. The hieroglyphic writings explain this. In the Hittite royal family, deceased ancestors are considered gods. Arnuvantis I and his wife are in a position of godhood. Arnuvantis II, who commissioned the stele, was two of them during his lifetime. "He pours liquid down from a container in his hand in the presence of his ancestor."
Uysal stated that there are hieroglyphic writings on the lower part of the stele and figures on top, and that Arnuvantis II, who commissioned the work, was sent to Malatya as king by the Kingdom of Carchemish.
Uysal stated that after the Hittite state collapsed, various city-states, large and small, emerged in Southern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria, and that the rulers of these states were appointed as rulers to these states during the Hittite period.
Uysal, stating that the stele contains information about four generations, said, "These are relatives of Kuzi Teshub, the 12th-century king of Carchemish. Four generations are mentioned here, dating back to around the 11th century. According to Hittite beliefs, a deceased member of the royal family is considered a god."
Uysal added that the people whose information is included in the stele are the last representatives of the Hittites in Anatolia.
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