ÇATALHÖYÜK 2005 ARCHIVE REPORT
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CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS REPORTS
Phytoliths
University College, London
Abstract
Samples for analysis were recovered from deposits that promised to be rich in phytoliths as well as from middens and pit fills and from a variety of artefacts. The analysis of the phytoliths from these units will be done at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London over the coming months.
Two bins sampled from Building 52, 4040 Area (F. 2002 and 2004) appeared to have been used for food storage.
Two ‘building infill’ units were sampled and six midden samples, which were selected to gain an overview of the plants that were exploited at the site and of the plants that were present in the area surrounding the site to gain an understanding of the local environment.
Finally, a number of artefacts were sampled. The first of these was a basket (11970) that was excavated from the 4040 area. This was sampled to try and determine what it was made from. A similar feature was found which was a roughly constructed basket which appeared to be made from some kind of ‘woody’ material and unworked metapodials were found within this structure. In the TP area two samples were taken from pottery vessels (11544) and 12259) to try and determine what they were used for.
Özet
Analiz için alınan örnekler, fitolit açısından zengin olan kalıntılardan, çöplüklerden, çukur dolgularından ve çeşitli eserlerden gelmektedir. Bu örneklerin analizleri önümüzdeki aylarda Institute of Archaeology’de yapılacaktır.
4040 alanında bulunan Bina 52’deki iki ambarın (F. 2002 ve 2004) gıda saklanmasında kullanıldığı belirlendi.
Iki bina dolgusundan ve Çatalhöyük ile çevresindeki bitki üreticiliğini anlamak için 6 çöplükden örnek alındı.
Ayrıca, bazı eserlerden de örnek alındı. Bunlardan ilki 4040 alanında bulunan bir sepetdir (11970). Amaç, sepetin hangi malzemeden yapıldığını anlamaktı. Bu sepete benzeyen başka bir sepetin, ağaca benzeyen bir malzemeden yapıldığı ve bu malzemenin içinde işlenmemiş metapodials bulunduğu ortaya çıkarılmıştır. TP alanında bulunan seramik kaplardan, bu kapların ne amaçla kullanıldıklarını öğrenmek amacıyla örnekler alınmıştır.
Introduction
The collection of samples for phytolith analysis and the processing of priority samples for on site feedback continued for a two week period over the 2005 excavation season. During this time, units were uncovered that promised to be rich in phytoliths and samples were taken from these units. In addition, units were sampled from middens and pit fills and from a variety of artefacts .The analysis of the phytoliths from these units will be done at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL over the coming months.
Phytolith rich features
Excavation of Space 53, Building 52, 4040 uncovered two bins (F. 2002 and 2004) that appeared to have been used for food storage. F. 2004 contained four fills (11904, 11907, 11911, 11923). (11904) was the top fill of the bin F. 2002 and contained cereal grains. (11907) had glume wheat chaff and cereal grains (including wheat and barley), and peas. (11911) produced lots of peas, and Crucifereae seeds and charred rodent droppings were found in this unit. Finally, (11923) was a continuation of the pea concentration and also produced Crucifereae seeds, almonds, and more mouse pellets. Phytolith samples were taken from (11911) and (11923).
F. 2002 was the other bin that was excavated from Space 93, Building 52. This feature contained a greater number of fills: (11900, 11903, 11906, 11908, 119190, 11918, and 11919). Phytolith samples were taken from: (11900) and (11903) which appeared to be concentrations of barley and (11906) which was rich in almonds. In addition, to these storage features, (10284) was excavated from the 4040 area which was a cluster of barley seeds and this was also sampled for phytoliths. A further storage bin was excavated from the Istanbul Area which contained carbonised barley seeds (11866) and this was also sampled for phytoliths. A final bin fill (11956) was sampled from 4040.
Midden and fill units
Two units were sampled that were described by the excavator as ‘building infill’. One of these was from the 4040 (10297) and the other was from the TP area (10986). Six midden units were sampled: 1 from the 4040 Area, (10369); 4 from the South Area (11358), (11359), and (11360); and one from the TP Area (12219). These samples were selected to gain an overview of the plants that were exploited at the site and of the plants that were present in the area surrounding the site to gain an understanding of the local environment.
Artefacts sampled for phytoliths
Finally, a number of artefacts were excavated that were sampled for phytoliths. The first of these was a basket (11970) that was excavated from the 4040 area. This was sampled to try and determine what it was made from. A similar feature was found which was a roughly constructed basket which appeared to be made from some kind of ‘woody’ material and unworked metapodials were found within this structure. The fill of this feature (11970) was sampled for phytoliths. In the TP area two samples were taken from pottery vessels (11544) and (12259) to try and determine what they were used for.
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