Readers of my Turkish trip report may recall my mention of Çatalhöyük, the Neolithic site in central Turkey that is believed to be the oldest human settlement.
Here’s an excellent article by Çatalhöyük’s current excavator, Ian Hodder, detailing recent discoveries and reinterpretations of older finds.
Terminology nitpick, but … why do archaeologists and people writing about the Middle East always use the term “Mud huts” or “mud-brick huts” which sound so primitive and dirty, when said “mud” dwellings go for big bucks in this neck of the woods?
P.S. How do you spell Catal Hayuk? “Chaco Canyon!” Or at least, the parellels are there.
Interesting article, but it’s odd he doesn’t do much with the obvious explanation for building big tightly clustered settlements like that — defense.
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