Figure 17: A selection of Pottery from the West Mound
Pottery
from archive reportExcavations on the West Mound in 2000 produced large quantities of pottery which have greatly improved our understanding of the Chalcolithic ceramic tradition at Çatalhöyük. Significant discoveries include some probable imported incised sherds, a virtually complete basket-handled jar of a type apparently not identified in the 1960's excavations and a number of sherds decorated with animals in relief. There is a noticeable change in material culture compared to the earlier East Mound. Much of the pottery is painted, and it is of a generally high quality (Figure 17). The shapes are different from those of the Neolithic, with strongly carinated open bowls, miniature vessels, footed bowls and large storage pots making their appearance. On the rough floor of the central room of phase 2 we found the upper part of a large pot with a basket handle. The smashed remains of the lower half of this pot were later found in the doorway leading to the small room in the south (Figure 15).
Some sherds show evidence of the order in which the elements of the painted motifs were applied and a number of pieces showed signs of repair where a thin layer of clay has been applied over a crack or area of damage.
|
|
