Çatalhöyük: A Study Guide on One of the Oldest Known Settlements

Çatalhöyük is one of the world's oldest known Neolithic settlements, located near the Turkish city of Chania.
Its discovery is relatively recent, taking place in 1958.
Excavations were conducted by a team led by archaeologist James Mellaart from the UK, continuing until 1964.
Initial excavations stopped due to a scandal involving Mellaart.
Work resumed in the early 1990s, bringing renewed attention to the site.
Çatalhöyük is renowned for its age, size, and significant artworks, including wall paintings and presumed religious objects.

The site contributes to the understanding of a major historical transition from hunter-gatherer societies to sedentary agricultural lifestyles.
This transition, termed the Neolithic Revolution, occurred globally between 10,000 to 7,000 BCE.
During the Neolithic Revolution, human communities began to establish permanent settlements, marking a critical evolution in social organization and economic systems.
Çatalhöyük exemplifies this evolution with evidence showing gradual population growth, averaging around 5,000 people but reportedly peaking at 10,000 in some generations.
Communities showcased agriculture through extensive planning, cultivation, and storage of crops, crucial for survival during winter or non-harvesting periods.

The layout in Çatalhöyük consisted of closely clustered dwellings forming a honeycomb-like maze.
The unique arrangement involved a lack of streets, as people accessed homes via holes in rooftops using ladders.
The roofs served multiple functions: as access points, ventilators (smoke from indoor fires escaped through the roof), and common areas for movement.
Inside homes, there were basic amenities: a kitchen area with fire pits, sleeping quarters, and occasionally rooms for storage.
The designs indicated adaptation to the environment, exemplified by their sanitation practices, with clean living conditions within houses and designated trash heaps outside.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Çatalhöyük had an egalitarian social structure.
The homes excavated show little to no variation, indicating there were no discernible social classes or hierarchical structures apparent in their domestic architecture.
There is no evidence of palatial structures or special quarters for elites, suggesting a society without significant wealth disparity.
While high-status individuals may have existed, they did not differ in housing or living conditions from others.

The daily diet of the people at Çatalhöyük consisted of:
- Wheat
- Barley
- Lentils
- Peas and various legumes
They practiced herding of sheep and goats, with evidence supporting the raising of cattle as well.
Farming practices had profound implications, allowing people to store food surpluses and subsequently free up time for other pursuits beyond survival.

The development of agricultural and surplus food production led to opportunities for leisure, creativity, and contemplation of more profound philosophical or spiritual aspects of life.
Evidence of spiritual beliefs is linked to the discovery of numerous female figurines which indicate the possibility of goddess worship.
In addition to potential goddesses, there may have been male deities and possibly animal spirits worshiped by the community.
The prevalence of female figurines suggests a pronounced feminine aspect in their spiritual practices.
Additionally, mounted bull heads found within the site could represent hunting trophies or objects of veneration, although their precise significance remains speculative.

Çatalhöyük provides valuable insights into early human civilization, its social structures, and cultural practices. It underscores the vast capabilities of early humans in forming organized communities well before written records were established, thus challenging previous assumptions regarding human organization in prehistoric times.

Understanding the nuances of Çatalhöyük contributes significantly to the broader historical narrative of human societal evolution during the Neolithic era.