Çatalhöyük

Quick Facts: Who was Çatalhöyük?

Subject:

Çatalhöyük

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Major Neolithic proto-city settlement in Anatolia, known for its dense domestic architecture.

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Origins & Early Life

Çatalhöyük (English: Chatalhoyuk; , cha-tal-HOO-yuhk; Turkish pronunciation: [tʃaˈtaɫhœjyc]; also Çatal Höyük and Çatal Hüyük; from Turkish çatal "fork" + höyük "tumulus") is a tell (a mounded accretion resulting from long-term human settlement) of a very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city settlement in southern Anatolia, which existed from around 7500 BC to 5600 BC and flourished around 7000 BC. Çatalhöyük overlooks the Konya Plain, southeast of the present-day city of Konya (ancient Iconium) in Turkey, around 140 km (87 mi) from the twin-coned volcano of Mount Hasan. It is notable for its large size, apparent egalitarian social structure, and value as a well-preserved example of early Neolithic-era permanent human settlements.In July 2012, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site of Çatalhöyük consists of two mounds separated by an extinct channel of the Çarşamba River. Eastern Mound - about 12.5 hectares (31 acres) in area with a height of about 20 metres (66 ft).

Career & Major Achievements

Its initial occupation in the Neolithic period resulted in a thick layer of remains whose extent is uncertain due to overlying later remains. Abandoned after the Neolithic, aside from a few stray Bronze Age graves, it was later occupied in the Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Well-built structures were built at the top of the mound in the Hellenistic period. A fort was built there in the Roman period, and a number of Byzantine coins were found. Western Mound - about 400 m (1,300 ft) in diameter (covering an area of about 8.5 ha (21 acres)) with a height of about 7.5 m (25 ft), lying about 300 m (980 ft) to the west.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It was occupied in the Early Chalcolithic period, beginning around 5600 BC. The original excavator used a periodisation of 12 levels, numbered 1–12. The current excavator replaced this with a different alphabetic schema involving levels A-Z. The site was discovered by James Mellaart in 1958 during a regional survey of the Konya Plain. He led a team which excavated there for four seasons between 1961 and 1965. These excavations revealed this section of Anatolia as a centre of advanced culture in the Neolithic period.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1958: 1958 Milestone — The site was discovered by James Mellaart in 1958 during a regional survey of the Konya Plain.
2. 1961: 1961 Milestone — He led a team which excavated there for four seasons between 1961 and 1965.
3. 2012: 2012 Milestone — In July 2012, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Çatalhöyük

True or False: “The initial occupation of Çatalhöyük is believed to have been solely focused on large-scale public ceremonial structures.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Archaeological evidence suggests the settlement was composed entirely of domestic buildings with no obvious public structures.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Çatalhöyük