ÇATALHÖYÜK 2005 ARCHIVE REPORT

Excavations of the South Area

Building 42 & 53

Simon McCann

Site Assistants: Elizabeth Tien Ha & KelseyTraher

Abstract

This season saw the completed excavation of Building 42, the building which yielded two of last seasons exciting finds, the marble figurine and the painted plastered skull. Within the eastern foundation trench that cut through underlying midden, was surprisingly the silicified remains of a timber plank. The underlying midden area Space 260, extended over both an earlier building, Building 53, to the west and another area of extensive midden Space 261. The repeated cycle of occupation and middening appears to be a theme connected with this area. Midden in Space 261 yielded interesting deposits, which have been suggested to relate to feasting activity and celebratory events, possibly related to the construction or abandonment of a house.

Özet

Bu sezon, geçen sezonun en heyecan verici iki buluntusunu ( mermer figürin ve boyalmış alçılı kafatası) veren Bina 42’nin kazısının tamamlanması üzerinde çalışıldı. Alt kısımdakı çöplüğü kesen doğu temeli açması içinde ahşap parçaları bulundu. Alt kısımdaki çöplük alanı olan Alan 260, daha erken bir bina olan Bina 53’ün batısına ve bir başka çöplük alanı olan Alan 261’e doğru uzatıldı. Tekrarlanan yerleşimler ve çöplükler bu alana özgü bir tema gibi görünmektedir. Alan 261’deki çöplük, bir evin yapım veya terkedilmesiyle ilişkili olan bir çeşit kutlama aktivitesi yapıldığına kanıt olan ilginç birikintiler sunmuştur.

Space 259

The initial task for the 2005 season was to complete the excavation of B42 of which only the eastern wall F826 remained. In order to achieve this several midden deposits and the remains of a wall, all heavily eroded, were excavated on the eastern side of F826. Wall F1070, consisting of barely four courses, running N/S for approximately 1m was excavated and was shown to be sitting directly onto midden. These midden deposits were excavated in broad stratigraphic bands following clearly defined tip lines until the foundation trench, (first noted in 2004 excavations as [11345]) for wall F826 was revealed. These deposits produced quantities of obsidian, pottery, bone and stone. Among these were an obsidian point and a blade fragment. Two beads were also recovered.

Building 42

The remaining wall of B42 was excavated revealing a foundation trench (11345) cut into the midden below. At the base of this foundation cut, traces of phytolith and wood impressions (11363) suggest that a timber plank was used to provide a level and stable surface prior to construction of the wall. This is the first example of this construction method found at Catalhoyuk. This suggests that the effects of subsidence were known to the inhabitants and that attempts to counter this were explored, indeed subsidence appears to have affected this building during its lifetime as was noted during last season. The siting of Building 42 at this particular location, on a midden, knowing the inherent problems presented may have been far outweighed by the statements being made, connected with grave F1517 and the plastered skull.

Space 260

This space consisted of midden deposits below B42 and extended over much of the area on this eroded island. These deposits consisted of the usual domestic waste material and contained animal bone, pot, stone and obsidian finds as well as several beads and some figurine fragments. The removal of these deposits gradually revealed the eastern wall of a building below, B53. They appeared to spread over the wall both filling the upper part of B53 and overlying the midden of Sp261 to the east. Their thickness was not great, as part of this wall was already visible prior to excavation of this space possibly indicating that this middening was short lived. This episode of activity represents a hiatus in the construction of buildings, and potentially, the habitation of this particular part of the mound.

Space 261

This area is on the external, eastern side of building 53, below Sp260 and consists of further midden deposits overlying a dump of building material (11379). Within and below this deposit were two animal bone clusters; one containing predominantly cattle and deer (11393), the other a mix of cattle, ovicaprid, pig, horse and deer, including fallow deer (11392). Both clusters contained large bones such as scapula, pelvis and horn cores as well as antler. It has been suggested that these are related to feasting activity and celebratory events, possibly related to the construction or abandonment of a house.

Building 53

Excavation of this structure was not completed this season. Its western limit is eroded away and to the south is the shelter foundation. However, its east and north walls are well defined. An internal wall divides it into two spaces, 257 and 272.

Figure 54 . Overview of Space 257 of Building 53 with Space 272 just to the left of the photograph.

Space 257

Midden and room fill deposits were removed revealing the internal features. Notable finds include several clay balls as well as an immaculate bone hook, probably a fastener of some kind. Unfortunately, a large animal burrow has extensively damaged the interior of this building and both the eastern and northeastern platforms have been severely truncated. Mellaart’s excavations have also truncated the north wall. Both platforms and the walls are plastered. The floor appears to have been scoured clean and plaster only remains in patches. On the eastern wall is a small pillar or post scar.

Space 272

The western part of the building has been truncated/ eroded but a dividing wall F1527 remains and it is to the west of this that a small space was excavated. Within this space a cluster of ground stone tools was recovered. Below this is an unexcavated deposit containing quantities of stone and bone. The quantity of artefacts in this space contrasts with the almost total lack in Sp257 and echoes similar discoveries on the south summit area this season. This possibly represents notions of clean and dirty spaces within the house.
The exposed sections of this building appear to show only one or two phases of plastering suggesting it may not have been occupied for long. There also appears to be extensive areas of midden beneath indicating that this area was used for the disposal of rubbish for some time before the construction of B53.

Excavation in the South this season seamed to be in part about the distinct episodes of building within midden layers. B53 is apparently constructed on a midden and is abutted by midden on its eastern side. After abandonment the area was once again used as midden until the construction of B42 when the area of midden is reduced but still in use. B42 is not constructed on the walls of B53 below suggesting a break in continuity of occupation. This may suggest that these structures are on the periphery of the mound and implies fluctuations in the density of dwellings caused by the expansion and contraction of the site and its population.