In 1958, British archaeologist James
Mellaart
discovered the Neolithic settlement known
as
Çatalhüyük in Southern Turkey near the
city of
Konya. Dated from around 7500 to 5700
B.C.,
the ruins of Çatalhüyük constitute the
largest
and best preserved Neolithic site yet
found. Much
has been learned about the settlement
from
subsequent excavations. Çatalhüyük
appears to
have been devoted entirely to domestic
buildings,
with little evidence for any public
architecture.
Unlike modern cities, there were no
streets.
Instead, the roofs of the mud-brick houses
served both as the thoroughfares. Doors
were on
the ceiling with stairs or ladders leading
into the
living spaces. Over time, crumbling
houses were
destroyed and rebuilt, leading to multiple
layers
of settlement. While little is known about
their
religious beliefs, the people of Çatalhüyük
buried their dead within the village. Some
remains bear evidence of ritual decoration,
similar to other Neolithic sites in Syria and
Jericho. Murals and figurines have been
uncovered throughout the settlement, and
interiors and exteriors of buildings were
adorned
with head of animals, especially cattle,
mounted
on the wall, all suggesting that the ancient
society had a distinctive religious belief
system
rich in symbolism.
- (LO.554)
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