Çatalhöyük — Ancient Land Of Peace And Egalitarianism
Current knowledge of this settlement reveals a lot about human history
Çatalhöyük was a large proto-agricultural settlement in what is now Turkey, existing from approximately 7100 BCE to 5700 BCE. At its height, the population numbered around 10,000, but all evidence is that the inhabitants lived a very peaceful and egalitarian existence. We know this is the case because Çatalhöyük is one of the most thoroughly excavated archeological sites in the world.
Excavation and research began in 1958 and was carried out by James Mellaart and his team. It is still under study today as the Çatalhöyük Archaeological Project, headed by archeologist Ian Hodder. Eighteen layers of successive buildings signifying various stages and eras of history have been uncovered. The settlement was comprised of mudbrick houses built closely together, with no streets between them. Instead, residents used the rooftops to get where they wanted to go. There were only homes, all similar in size and layout, with no public buildings in evidence.
Along with the structures themselves, a wealth of art and artifacts have also been discovered. These also help to formulate a picture of what life was like at Çatalhöyük. Painting, clay modeling of various types, as well as stonework indicate a…
