ÇATALHÖYÜK 2003 ARCHIVE REPORT

WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS

Catriona Gibson and Jonathan Last

with contributions by Sheelagh Frame and Tiffany Raszick

Abstract

Renewed excavations at the West Mound of Çatalhöyük, Küçükköy, Konya, Turkey began in 1998, when selected areas of James Mellaart’s two 1961 trenches were re-opened. These results have been archived (Last 1998), but the main finding was the corner of a mudbrick building on the highest part of the mound (Mellaart's Trench 1). This discovery clearly warranted further investigation, and in 2000 a larger excavation area (measuring c. 12 x 6 m) was opened in the vicinity of the expected building (known as Building 25; hereafter B.25). The results of this excavation have also been documented elsewhere (Gibson, Hamilton & Last 2000), but included the discovery of three Late Roman/Byzantine burials overlying at least three phases of Chalcolithic architecture. Since the structure turned out to be larger and more complex than originally expected, its full extent was not uncovered. Therefore in 2001 the excavation area was expanded horizontally to the north, west and east. Further walls of B.25 were uncovered, along with the cuts of several more Late Roman/Byzantine graves (see Gibson and Last 2001).

The main aim of the 2003 season was to investigate the various spaces comprising B.25 within this larger area (12 x 10 m) and to bring these into phase with the area excavated in 2000 (also entailing the excavation of a number of the graves). This would allow a better understanding of the architecture and use of space in a Chalcolithic structure, and of their similarities and differences from the East Mound buildings. The secondary aim was to continue the analysis of the artefact (ceramics, lithics) and environmental (faunal, botanical) assemblages from this and previous seasons.

Özet

Çatalhöyük’ün bati höyügündeki kazilar, James Mellaart’in iki adet 1961 açmasindan bazi bölümlerin 1998 yilinda yeniden açilmasiyla baslamistir. Bu sonuçlar arsivlenmistir (Last 1998). Ancak en önemli buluntu höyügün en yüksek bölümündeki (Mellaart’in 1 nolu açmasi) kerpiç bir binanin kösesi olmustur. Bu bulgu daha fazla arastirmayi gerektirmis, dolayisiyla da 2000 yilinda yaklasik 12 x 6 m. ölçülerinde ve bulunmasi umulan (ve daha sonra 25 nolu bina olarak adlandirilan) binanin bölgesinde daha genis bir alan açilmistir. Dokumantasyonu yapilmis olan bu kazinin sonuçlari arasinda (Gibson, Hamilton & Last 2000), Kalkolitik mimarinin en az üç asamasi üzerinde bulunan üç adet Geç Roma/Bizans gömüsü de bulunmaktadir. Baslangiçta tahmin edilenden daha genis ve daha karmasik oldugu anlasilan yapinin tamami kesfedilememistir. Bu sebeple kazi alani 2001 yilinda kuzey, bati ve doguya dogru yatay olarak genisletilmistir. Böylelikle 25 nolu binanin bazi duvarlarinin yani sira, diger bazi Geç Roma/Bizans gömü kesikleri ortaya çikarilmistir (Bkz. Gibson ve Last 2001).

2003 sezonunun temel amaci 25 nolu binanin içindeki 12 x 10 metrelik bu genis alani olusturan mekanlarin arastirilmasi ve bunlarin 2000 yilinda kazilan alanla ayni evreye getirilmesiydi ki bu bazi gömülerin kazilmasi anlamina da geliyordu. Bu çalisma Kalkolitik bir yapiya ait mekanin ve mimarinin daha iyi anlasilmasina ve Dogu höyük binalariyla benzerliklerinin ve farkliliklarinin görülmesine olanak taniyacakti. Ikincil amaç ise bu ve önceki sezonlara ait seremik ve litik gibi buluntularla hayvan ve bitki kalintilarinin analizine devam etmekti.

Introduction

Five weeks of excavation took place on the West Mound of Çatalhöyük during July and August 2003, funded by the Wainwright Fund and the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, with support from the main Çatalhöyük Project. The excavation was directed jointly by Catriona Gibson and Jonathan Last, assisted by a small team of British archaeologists (from Wessex Archaeology), one Turkish student and local workers. This preliminary report summarises the main findings from the 2003 season, which concludes the present excavation phase of this project.

Excavation Area

Initially the backfill from the 2001 season was removed, and an ‘L’-shaped excavation area measuring c. 12 x 10 m was laid out on the basis of the plan drawn at the end of the 2001 season (Fig.41). This trench lay to the north and west of the area excavated in 2000 (Spaces 189-193). Its western edge was defined by the limit of a large Byzantine pit (7218), investigated in 2001, which had removed the Chalcolithic deposits in this area. Its eastern edge was defined by the wall lines identified in the 2000 season.

Figure 41: Plan of B.25

Late Roman/Byzantine activity

The first task was to excavate several known or suspected late graves that cut through Chalcolithic deposits. In the western half of the trench three east-west aligned grave cuts (F.30, F.31 and F732) were excavated. All three appear to have been deliberately cut into the softer room fills between the Chalcolithic walls of Building 25.

The northernmost grave (F.730), which truncated Space 223 and the south-west part of Space 194, comprised a large sub-rectangular pit which proved to have disturbed the original grave cut. This measured c. 3 x 1.7 m and was 1m in depth. Because of the disturbance, only scattered disarticulated fragments of human remains were found within the fill (representing a young female individual) but remnants of a limestone and mortar lining of the original grave pit were discerned at its base.

To the south, cut through fills of Space 219 and 221, grave F.732 measured 2.6 x 1.6 x 1 m deep and had been subject to a similar process of robbing. Again only disarticulated human remains were found, this time apparently deriving from an elderly male. Further south again grave F.731 (within Space 224) measured 2.5 x 1.2 m but was slightly less deep (c. 0.5 m), and its southern edge was truncated by Mellaart’s trench. Once again the grave had been disturbed, and large fragments of decorated tile recovered towards the base probably represent its original lining.

The disturbance to all three of these graves appears to have been deliberate and it is notable that skull fragments were largely absent. In F.730 and F.732 small discrete cuts were noted at the western end of the grave, where the head would have been. It is therefore possible that skulls had been deliberately removed. The reason for this practice is unclear, but it may be significant that a small pit excavated in 1998 contained redeposited parts of at least two human skulls.

Further east, within Space 194, an undisturbed grave lined with orange mudbricks lay on a slightly different alignment (north-east – south-west). This grave (F.735) measured 2.5 x 1.5 m and was 0.4 m deep (Fig. 42). Its north-eastern end had been truncated by a recent disturbance. This grave was not aligned with the Chalcolithic walls but cut through plaster surfaces associated with the main space of B.25. It contained a supine extended inhumation of a young (c. 18-25) female, but lacked grave goods. One further stone-built grave was partly exposed in the north-west corner of the trench, truncating the western part of Space 218 (F746). This was planned but not excavated.

Figure 42: Grave F.735

The other major late feature excavated was a large irregular shaped pit (F.747), measuring at least 4.5 m by 3.2 m. This had removed the eastern side of Building 25 to a depth of at least 0.8 m. The eastern edge of this pit cut a further Byzantine grave, from which the skull and torso of another individual were recovered (the skull had actually toppled into the pit). The legs of this skeleton had been truncated by yet another area of disturbance further east. A late linear cut (9055) had truncated deposits on the northern side of the trench. The date of this disturbance is unknown but it cut the western side of pit F.747, which in turn is probably later than the graves.

Late Roman/Byzantine artefacts from these various deposits were sparse (although they contained much redeposited Chalcolithic material), but finds included occasional beads and fragments of glass bracelets.

The Early Chalcolithic building (B.25)

Despite these later features, most of the Chalcolithic walls, and significant areas of the spaces defined by them, remained intact. The excavations in 2000 had revealed a row of three small cell-like spaces (189-191) to the north of which was a larger ‘L’-shaped space (192-193), measuring c. 4.4 x 2.3 m. This space contained a series of poorly preserved plaster bins and ovens towards its eastern end. To the north again a small area of a space with white plastered walls and several phases of plaster surfaces had been revealed (Space 194). A major aim of this season was to explore the full extent of this room, which appeared relatively elaborate compared with those to the south that lacked plastering.

This season’s work demonstrated that Space 194 probably represents the main or central space of Building 25 (Fig. 43). With maximum dimensions of c. 5.5 x 4.8 m it is significantly larger than any other space so far investigated (though still fairly small in comparison to the East Mound houses).

Figure 43: View of Space 194 (late phase) and adjacent spaces, looking south

Within Space 194 at least three phases of replastering were identified, although the basic layout of the space remained the same. In each phase raised platforms or benches (also plastered) were identified around three sides of the room, except along the north wall, which showed an unusual curvature. These platforms were separated by buttress-like features projecting into the room. A large circular oven lay in the centre of the room, although in the upper phases this had largely been removed by grave F.735. In the better preserved earlier phase this feature (F.1357) measured roughly 1.2 m in diameter, while a smaller hearth (F.1358) lay in the south-east corner of the room. The room fills overlying the two earlier plaster floors investigated (units (9016) and (9023)) contained a high representation of the left forelegs of sheep and goats. Although these bones were scattered throughout the fill, they clearly indicate some form of selection or specialised deposition (see Frame, below).

To the west of Space 194 a series of small spaces was revealed, not dissimilar in form to Spaces. 189-191. Furthest north, and running into the northern section of the trench, Space 218 (c. 1.9 x 1.6m+) contained traces of a beaten earth surface in its northern half, and a niche-like feature in the south-west. A possible doorway through the south wall led into narrow Space 220. Below the surface, room fill of an earlier phase contained large sherds of pottery and a number of sheep/goat horn cores.

Space 220 was a narrow between-wall space extending for at least 3.4 m east-west and 0.5 m wide. Its fill comprised a high proportion of burnt mudbrick within an ashy deposit; such burnt material was not found in any of the other spaces in Building 25. A double mudbrick wall separated Space 220 from Space 223 to the south, which measured 1.5 m by at least 1.1 m (the western side was truncated by pit (7218)). Most of the fill of this space had been removed by grave cut F.730, but in the north-west corner the head of a unique anthropomorphic pottery vessel was found (Fig. 44). To the south of this space and 194 were two further small cell-like rooms, Spaces. 219 and 221, both of which had been truncated by grave F.732. To the west, Space 219 measured 1.9 m by at least 1.0 m. The room fill in this space contained large quantities of pottery, animal bone (including bone points) and obsidian tools. Beneath this fill an informal beaten earth surface was encountered, with a few potsherds lying on it. A crawlhole (0.95 m x 0.50 m) linked this space with Space 223 to the north.

A double wall separated Space 219 from Space 221 to the east. Space 221 measured 1.5 x 1.2 m. A surface was recognised and the room fill above yielded a large quantity of pottery, groundstone, animal bone and clay balls. The size of many of the potsherds and the number of joins suggest that they comprised freshly broken vessels, and this is reminiscent of the spreads of pottery found at a higher level in the fill of Building 25 in 2000. A bone ‘dagger’ of unusual form was directly associated with a large red deer antler in the south-west corner of this space, probably deliberately placed (see Frame below).

Further south again, in line with Spaces 189-191, elongated Space 224 was cut by grave F.731. This space measured at least 5 m in length and approximately 1.3 m in width. Once again no surfaces were recognised, but the room fill contained considerable quantities of pottery and other finds, including an antler-hafted obsidian blade.

In the north-west corner of the 2000 area, south of Space 194, an additional small space was identified, following the removal of stone-lined grave F.709, which had truncated almost all of its fill. Finally, in the area east of Space 194 which had not been truncated by pit F.747, a small area of midden (at least 0.95 m in depth) was investigated, probably indicating that this was an external space. As on the East Mound, this midden comprised a series of fine ashy lenses interleaved with building debris (fragments of plaster and mudbrick). The only other similar midden layers were found in 1998 to the south of Building 25.

Discussion

The 2003 season has revolutionised our understanding of Building25. It shows that the Early Chalcolithic buildings comprise relatively large and well-constructed central rooms flanked by ranges of small cell-like spaces. However, the overall building plan gives an impression of irregularity and organic development unlike, say, the more regular Chalcolithic houses at Can Hasan (French 1998). The general lack of features and doorways/crawlholes in most of the smaller spaces, as well as the double or triple walls surrounding them, may indicate that these can be considered as basements or cellars and that another storey lay above them. These small rooms and the divisions within Space 194 suggest a radically different concept of space from the Neolithic, with its largely open one or two-roomed houses.

Because of this irregular development it remains difficult to identify the limits of Building 25. In the north-west corner of the trench the presence of between-wall Space 220 and the fact that Space 218 continues beyond the line of the northern wall of Space 194 might suggest that this is the corner of a separate building. If true, this means that the structures are not rectangular in plan, but fit together in a more haphazard way. Ultimately, only excavation in a larger area will confirm this and show whether Building 25 is indeed typical of Early Chalcolithic buildings on the West Mound. A further unanswered question concerns the spaces between buildings, and the presence or extent of external courtyards, lanes and middens.

Specialist Analyses

Following the 2002 Study Season, recording and analysis of the ceramic, lithic and faunal assemblages is largely up to date, although work on the 2003 material remains to be completed next year. Some work was also undertaken on the botanical remains, but the majority of this assemblage will be analysed in 2004.

Ceramics – Jonathan Last and Catriona Gibson

Full analysis of the pottery from 2003 is not yet complete, but a number of conclusions can be provisionally outlined. More detailed analysis of the pottery is currently being undertaken. All the data collected on pro-forma record sheets is presently being entered on to a database. When complete (50,000 sherds have been scanned, over 8,000 sherds have now been analysed fully and 6,000 more will be analysed next season), it will be possible to see the different patterns emerging with respect to the different variables of context, form, fabric, decoration, use and deposition.

There was a clear distinction between the assemblages from the small spaces, which included dumps of large potsherds, and the fills of Space 194, which did not exhibit this phenomenon. In particular Space 221 produced several layers of smashed pottery, with a number of refits, including two complete decorated vessels (a small bowl and a basket-handled jar). Other interesting finds include an unusual rectangular pot (from a grave fill), further examples of the ‘overpainting’ technique described in last year’s archive report
(where painted decoration has been covered over through a later application of cream or red slip), and a number of sherds with incised decoration, including both ‘Gelveri’ and ‘Can Hasan’ types. A significant number of ‘miniature’ vessels were also noted in room fill deposits while a number of semi-complete vessels with scorch or burn marks were noted in deposit (7781) within Space 220. It is probable that these pots had been complete when thrown into this context, and were smashed within the space while it was still burning.

Undoubtedly, the most exciting individual find in 2003 was the head of an anthropomorphic vessel, comparable to (though of a rather different style from) those from Hacilar (Fig. 42). It is clear that this head had been broken and then reused in the context in which it was found.

During 2003, in comparison to earlier seasons, a larger number of Early Chalcolithic sherds were retrieved from well-stratified contexts (as opposed to disturbed or surface deposits). As with the lithics, animal bones and botanical remains, it is now possible to discern differences between the deposition of posherds in the various spaces. It would appear that the room fills in the southern spaces excavated in 2000 contained relatively few potsherds, with the exception of what may be closure deposits at a high level within the fills. In comparison, the small western spaces of the building tended to contain relatively dense quantities of pottery, often highly decorated and fresh in appearance, suggesting acts of deliberate deposition. A final contrast concerns the fills between the plaster surfaces of the central room, Space 194. Here only a few sherds were encountered (even fewer than from the southern spaces) and they were generally small and abraded. Thus patterning in the depositional processes within the various spaces are becoming clearer.

Animal Bones - Sheelagh Frame

The 2003 season has clarified several issues raised by earlier research on the West Mound faunal assemblage; firstly on the question of domestication and secondly on the presence of special deposits in the room fill contexts. There is also a spectacular assemblage of bone tools, which are discussed in more detail in the bone tools report. This report will consider only the mammalian fauna; the bird and fish bone are being analysed by other specialists. It became apparent during preliminary sorting that non-mammalian bones are relatively rare in the secure Chalcolithic deposits on the West Mound. The reasons for this apparent scarcity need to be considered within the context of an integrated analysis of all the animal remains.

The goal of the current phase of analysis is to examine all the bones from undisturbed prehistoric contexts. This should be completed by the end of the 2004 study season. Due to the nature of the architecture and the large number of intrusive Byzantine graves, most of the undisturbed contexts are room fill units. This is a potentially significant bias since cultural disposal practices are spatially sensitive and the nature and density of deposits inside an abandoned house and between houses are bound to be different. This is especially true at this site, where it is clear that some parts of the house fill units are specialised deposits.

We have now recorded 63,484 pieces of bone from over 100 Chalcolithic contexts. 6,170 of these (9.7%) have been identified at least to genus. There is a broad range of species (Table 1), now including wolf, but ovicaprids overwhelmingly predominate - 90.7% using NISP method of quantification and 89.6% using diagnostic zones. Cattle are a distant third with 5.6/6% (NISP/Diagnostic zones). None of the other 13 species identified (horse, onager, European wild ass, dog, wild boar/pig, red deer, roe deer, fox, hedgehog, badger, hare, wolf and a small carnivore, probably a mustelid) make up more than 0.5 % of the total assemblage. Interestingly, rare fauna (cattle, horse, pig, post-cranial deer bone, onager, European wild ass) are usually found together in certain units not evenly distributed throughout the site. Antler, on the other hand, tends to be found apart from the post-cranial deer skeleton and in contexts which are largely dominated by sheep and goat.

We can confirm that the three most common species (sheep, goat and cattle) are domestic. Osteometric analysis shows that the Chalcolithic cattle fall within the domestic size range and are distinctly smaller than the Neolithic cattle. It is curious that just as the cattle become morphologically distinct from the wild cattle they actually become rarer in the assemblage - 6 % in the Chalcolithic as opposed to 13% wild cattle in the Neolithic. The question of when and how cattle domestication occurred in Central Anatolia clearly needs to be re-examined in light of this new evidence.

The majority of sheep and goat are domestic and this year we found an almost complete, twisted goat horn which indicates that the animals had become visibly distinct from their wild ancestors. Among the post-cranial goat bones there are two distinct sizes. The size range is too large to be caused by sexual dimorphism and suggests that two separate goat populations are represented, possibly wild and domestic. Although no morphological traits have been identified for the sheep, the osteometric data suggest that they are also domestic. The range in the size of sheep is similar to the goats but the clustering is less distinct and needs further statistical analysis.

The most exciting finds from the 2003 season are the specialised deposits of a variety of sorts. In (9016) and (9023), two contexts from the central room fill (see West Archive report), there are 8 complete left caprid scapula; 3 sheep, 3 goat and 2 young individuals that are either sheep or goat. In (9023), the only unit from this space that was completely analysed, there were 4 large fragments of left caprid ulna, 3 left radius and large fragments of a left cattle ulna and radius. These pieces were much larger than the usual fragment size, in several cases almost complete and were clearly distinct from the other upper limb fragments. There were no comparable sized pieces from the right forelimb or from the hind limb. The hind limb is significantly under-represented in these deposits even among the metapodials and phalanges. Unit (9016), which contains 3 of the complete scapula, has not yet been analysed. Even without complete analysis it is clear that large pieces of the left forelimbs of sheep, goat and cattle, with the humerus removed, were placed in this fill. These bones are distinguished not only by the selection for the left forelimb, but they have also not been processed in the same way as the typical bone. Intriguingly these specialised deposits do not occur on floors but rather in the rapidly covered house fill.

Table 1: Relative Proportion of Mammalian Taxa on the West Mound

Other specialised deposits include red deer antler, horn cores and tools that were deliberately placed in the fill. The most spectacular example is an unusual bone ‘dagger’ placed at right angles to an extremely large, curved fragment of red deer antler. The tip of the bone dagger was placed just at the centre of the arch of the antler and both were horizontally placed in the fill. There is also an obsidian dagger with a handle made from the first tine of a red deer antler.

Obsidian and Flint - Tiffany Raszick

This preliminary report on the obsidian and flint artefacts from the West Mound focuses on material collected during the 2003 excavation season, but also addresses some basic relationships between this material and that collected during earlier seasons, and the differences and similarities with the East Mound lithic assemblage. The artefacts excavated in 2003 have been looked at on a primary level only: that is, total counts and weights have been recorded for all units excavated. Only ‘X-finds’ (those deemed significant either in the field or by this analyst) have had their attributes recorded in detail. Final data collection will take place during next year’s study season. Furthermore, only data from secure Chalcolithic units (unless otherwise stated) will be used for this discussion.

The character of production
There appear to be five main production strategies employed on the West Mound, which apply to both flint and obsidian. The abundance of flint in relation to obsidian has increased slightly in the newly excavated units, rising from an average of 5.12% to 5.63%. A detailed study of the material next year will help to clarify whether this represents the employment of an ‘in-house’ strategy or an increased trade in flint.

Currently, there is some indication of both on- and off- site production. In-house strategies, where most of the reduction sequence is present on site, produced small irregular blades and flakes from opposed, single and multiple platform cores. Although there is evidence on the cores for preparation, the blanks produced have a general lack of standardisation. Non-local strategies produced regular prismatic blades made by opposed and single platform technologies. These were possibly produced on pre-formed cores and/or brought in as blade blanks. Only a few prismatic cores have been identified on site, though it is possible that some of the heavily reduced cores/pièces esquillées were at one time prismatic cores. This has direct bearing as to whether or not there were specialists on site producing blades from the cores or if this specialisation was only non-local – perhaps it was both. The nature of acquisition/trade of the obsidian, and to a lesser degree the flint, is an issue of further research and this, as well as the nature of production, will be addressed in more detail in the final report.

Nature of the assemblage
There were two exciting finds this year. The first comprises a group of objects with covering bifacial retouch forming chisel-like points in both obsidian and flint. On first impression, these artefacts appeared to be re-use of tangs from earlier bifaces from the East Mound. However, the bifaces from the West Mound are highly standardised in form, and when the production strategies are closely examined the differences in metrics and retouch attributes from those earlier objects make re-use unlikely. Furthermore, a comparison with all point types identified by Conolly (1999) also ruled this out. Most certainly it is a new type. Another exciting identification was that of a point with a retouched triangular-shaped ‘working’ end and straight stem. Like the biface, it is unique; I could find nothing that compared to it in the descriptions of the collection excavated during the Mellaart years (cf. Bialor 1962) or in the Neolithic material described by Conolly (1999), Carter (Archive Reports on the Catalhoyuk website and in the forthcoming volumes) and others.

Two types of pièces esquillées have been identified in this and previous years. The use of these objects, as tools or cores, is a source of debate. From the damage and shaping it may be assumed they were used as chisels or wedge type tools, perhaps for woodworking. The first type consists of regularly shaped pieces with crushing and scarring on opposed ends. The second type consists of irregularly shaped pieces, also with evidence of crushing and scarring, but on a single edge only or on adjoining edges. Flake blanks seem to have been used predominately but a small number of blade blanks and cores have evidence of crushing and scarring not attributable to blank production. Without having completed the data analysis on the artefacts very little else can be said about them beyond presence/absence.

A preliminary analysis of artefact distribution by space and context
Being the most productive in terms of lithic recovery, the room fills contain the largest and most dense artefact numbers. However, something can also be said of the clusters, floor make-up, surfaces and midden-type deposits.

Space 194 is unique for a couple of reasons: it contains 99% of all the overshot flakes and blades and 90.5% of the cortical flakes, and there are no tertiary flakes and remarkably few cores. The contents of the floor make-up between plaster surfaces, and the uppermost plaster surface of Space 194, vary little from that of the fill, but lithic artefacts are conspicuously absent from the make-up for the southern bench/platform. In the room fill above the plaster surface one of the West bifaces was located. Conversely, Space 218 fill contains 58% of the tertiary flakes and 75% of the cores recovered from secure units. Another biface was also found here. The surface uncovered in this space contained only three blade fragments.

The middens from this and previous seasons have been the only contexts from which transverse arrowheads (a ‘typical’ Chalcolithic diagnostic; these are obliquely bitruncated blade fragments) have been recovered. At the moment, the reason for discard in this context is unclear. The find, then, of a transverse arrowhead in the midden-type deposit of Space 219 is not out of place. In other contexts, only one artefact was excavated from the cluster in Space 219. However, the most interesting find from this space comes from the unit directly beneath the cluster – a complete bilaterally, multiple-notched blade found in association with a goat horn. The retouch has produced a beautiful, curved object. On the East Mound similar deposits have been associated with building or room closures.

The cluster in Space 221 contained more artefacts than that in Space 219. Even so, there is very little to say about this context and the contents closely resemble what one would find in a fill. The room fill in Space 221 is not particularly exceptional; it is very much the same as all the room fills discussed above except for the absence of pièces esquillées which have been identified in every space except this one.

The finds from Space 223 are what one typically finds in a room fill. Perhaps the only intriguing aspect of this space is that very few lithic artefacts were recovered. Why the density would be so low here compared with other areas on site is unclear but further data analysis may give some clues as to the behaviours involved in the infilling of this space in the different phases.

Comparison with material collected during the 1998, 2000, and 2001 seasons
The initial interpretation based on material collected from earlier seasons was that the character of the assemblage is very homogeneous – there is little in the way of evidence for on-site production and the fill deposits, from which the bulk of the assemblage derives, have very similar characteristics, particularly in the preponderance of blades over any other object type. A fair comparison can only be made on totals from previous excavations minus ‘debris’ (chips and shatter) counts, as this material (<4 mm flotation samples) has not yet been fully processed for 2003. As such, pre-2003 totals show that blades, both prismatic and non-prismatic (equally present), make up 53% of the total assemblage. In 2003, it is estimated that blades make up only 39% of the total assemblage. This is not due to the presence of fewer blades overall but instead is the result of the presence of greater numbers of other artefact types in the most recently excavated units. A pattern is appearing in which the actual fill material is different in different parts of the site. A completed analysis of the production strategies identified in each context (especially the fills) is essential for understanding the behaviours behind the use and closure of distinct areas within Building 25.

Comparison with the East Mound assemblages
Based on visual observation, it appears that the West Mound lithic assemblage is transitional from the East Mound assemblage. That is to say, material excavated from the uppermost Late Neolithic levels, in terms of production strategies and materials employed, resembles some of the material from the West Mound. Likewise, some techniques employed in the earlier phases are apparently absent in the Chalcolithic repertoire and new object types have been introduced. As noted above, there may be a new in-house flint technology represented in the West Mound assemblage which is not detailed for the East Mound. Further examination of cores: debitage is necessary for clarification.

Some concluding remarks
A number of issues have been discussed above: the production of prismatic blades as local and/ or non-local specialisation; variation in site use and closure based on the character of the different contexts; the relationships with the East Mound; the nature of the acquisition of the obsidian and flint. What will be discussed in more detail next year is the range of production strategies employed on site. This will be based on a detailed attribute analysis.

Notes:The quantification methods used at Çatalhöyük are discussed in more detail in previous archive reports (Martin and Russell 1998). Both Number of Individual Specimens (NISP) and Diagnostic Zones (DZ) are calculated since both are useful for different reasons. Significantly in the West assemblage NISP and DZ are virtually identical to each other when used to calculate relative number of species.