Elazig's predecessor Harput lies some 6km/4mi to the northeast at an altitude of 1,270m/4,168ft, commanding a magnificent view over the plain and the town. Until 1862 Harput (Arabic Khartabirt, Armenian Kharpert, meaning "fortress rock") was itself the provincial center, with a population of about 20,000. The citadel is almost certainly Urartian
in origin, but reconstructed a number of times. Harput may also have been the capital of the ancient region of Sophene Karkathiokerta. It was in several different hands from the 10th century onwards until conquered by the Ottomans in 1515.
Apart from the citadel ruins the building of most interest is the Ulu Cami, founded around 1165. Also dating from the Seljuk period are the ruined Arapbaba Camii and the Alaça Camii, the latter housing a small archeological collection of mainly Urartian and Roman finds from the surrounding area. The Sarâ Hatun Camii was built in the 15th century by the Akkoyun Emir Uzun Hasan Bey, in honor of his mother Sara Hatun. There are also three Ottoman caravanserais.