Çatalhöyük 1993 Archive Report

ÇATALHÖYÜK 1993 ARCHIVE REPORT

The topographic survey at Çatalhöyük

Tom Pollard & Colin A. Shell

The survey of the tell at Çatalhöyük was undertaken with a Wild TC-1000 total station loaned, through the good offices of Chris Burgess and Trevor Watkins, by the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh.

An existing triangulation point on the summit of the main mound, recorded at 1020.30 metres above sea level on local maps, provided the fixed reference point for the laying out of the survey grid and the contouring. The sire grid was established with 20m by 20m interval units, with the northern grid direction aligned on magnetic north and the survey base reference point assigned as position 1000.00, 1000.00, 1020.30). The grid formed the basis of the surface collection and area scraping exercises.

For contouring, readings were taken at approximately two metre intervals within the 20m grid units and directly recorded with a digital data logger. the measurement interval was selected to satisfy the conflicting concerns of resolving fine detail against the needed area coverage within the time constraints of the survey. Temporary site datum points were established for the re-siting, as necessary, of the total station, in order to provide coverage of the five hectare units surveyed. The boundary of the area 1961-1965 excavations was recorded, as were sections of the surrounding fencing where they were encountered.

Initial processing an display of the data was undertaken with Surfer software on a Viglen notebook computer, with output to a Canon inkjet printer. The raw co-ordinate data was subsequently processed using AutoCAD with Quicksurf software to produce contour plans at 1.00 m and 0.25 m intervals (see fig 1). The detailed contouring was by interpolation on a triangular irregular network incorporating all the measured 2m interval points.

Contouring at a 0.25m interval proved to be the most descriptive of the mounds and its fine detail. At closer contour intervals the random variation in the measurement form varying vegetation and animal burrowing tended to obscure the essential form of the mound. A number of interesting features are apparent from the survey so far, including the clear delineation of the hollow ways of the two long standing tracks running across the mound, the first diagonally between the main and northern subsidiary summit in an approximately NW-SW direction, and the second running north-south in the most easterly hectare so far surveyed. I this eastern hectare are to plateauing areas, more level than the prevailing slope of the mound, which need testing for evidence of building platforms. There if a similar feature on the Northern ward slope of the subsidiary summit. Prominent in the Southwest hectare of the survey are three large spoil tips with traces of tracks leading from the site of the excavations. the steeper gradient to the eastern side of the main summit is also well defined.