ÇATALHÖYÜK 1997 ARCHIVE REPORT

GRAVE GOODS

Naomi Hamilton

In 1997 excavation of burials in Building 1, in the North area, continued. A large number of individuals was found, and several were accompanied by grave goods. Burials were also found in Space 112 in Mellaart area, but these were without grave goods. A single bead, possibly of turquoise, was found near the head of one skeleton, but there is no clear evidence that it was placed intentionally in the grave. Artefactual grave goods were found in six or more burials this year; in addition, a number of items were found in heavy residue from last season which add to what is known from burials excavated last year; some items cannot be attributed definitely to any burial or skeleton, so that the picture is rather confused in places. Materials added to the graves such as ochre or wrapping are not generally dealt with here, as further analysis is required to identify them and not all information is currently available.

Skeleton 2105, an infant buried under the north-west platform in Building 1, was buried with at least one stone necklace (2105.X1,X2,X3,X4,H1) with a shell pendant (2105.F1) similar to those Mellaart found with infant burials. Altogether 1,787 beads were found, almost all of them made of black or dark brown stone which has not yet been securely identified. The remainder are 12 white limestone, 3 dentalium shell and 3 in a pinkish stone, also not securely identified. Unfortunately it is not certain whether all the beads belong to this burial, or how they were arranged. The first 102 beads were recovered from the heavy residue of unit 1982, a unit covering the upper fill of three burials (including 2105), and therefore 1982.H1 and 1982.H2 cannot definitely be said to belong to skeleton 2105. The beads are of the same type, but similar (albeit slightly larger) beads were found with skeleton 1913, burial 35, in the same platform last year, and they are by far the most common type and colour of bead at Çatalhöyük. Therefore it is feasible that these beads belonged to one of the two other burials covered by unit 1982,although it is probable that they belong to 2105. The excavator did not notice the beads, they were pointed out to him by one of the human remains team as a group of beads around one ankle of the infant (2105.X1). This group consisted of 112 beads. Later more beads were found around the neck, with three rows visible (2105.X3), a group of 196 beads. Three further groups were found - 2105.X2 - 42 beads from the fill over the body; 2105.X4 - 426 beads of unspecified provenance; and 2105.H1 - 59 beads from the heavy residue. In addition to this, 850 beads came from the heavy residue from the unit below the skeleton - these are 2118.H1 (800, including the 12 white limestone beads), 2118.H2 (the 3 pink beads), and 2118.H3 (47 black and brown beads). The excavator mentioned that he saw three white beads together in the soil, but he did not trace the line of the other beads, merely sending all the soil to flotation. As a result of the very mixed retrieval of these beads, it is not possible to say whether one long necklace was wrapped three times around the infant's neck then draped across the body and around one ankle, or whether several groups of beads were involved, one of them perhaps an anklet. The very large number of beads retrieved from the soil below the skeleton, and the fact that this group included all the white limestone and pink stone beads, suggests the possibility that either a separate necklace was put in the soil beneath the infant, or that the beads were attached to clothing or wrapping. They could also have been scattered in the grave, which would imply that the grouping of three white beads together was accidental. Due to this confusion, I have not amalgamated these groups to form a single necklace. The majority remain in the groups in which they arrived in the lab. Most of the beads are now in Konya.

A fragile mussel shell was seen in situ amongst burials in the north-west platform of Building 1, but when I went to examine it, it had been lifted so I could not measure it before it broke up. I have been unable to get it from the finds lab and have therefore not examined it and cannot be sure of its number.

1955.X1 is a beautiful green stone pendant/belt fastener found between the disturbed femur and pelvis bones of skeleton 1955 in the north-west platform of Building 1. It is made of a semi-translucent pale-green stone, well-polished, especially on the back. In shape it is roughly ovoid -cum-trapezoid, with all curved edges, 44mm long and 29.5mm wide, and pierced at both ends. The two long edges are reasonably sharp, as though it could once have been a tool, but no tools of this shape have yet been found and the stone is fairly thin (max 5.9mm). However, a couple of small celts of a similar stone have been found during the current work. Its position near the pelvis suggested it could have been part of a belt, but the burial was disturbed, and the excavator later decided that he was not sure this artefact belonged to skeleton 1955. I have not yet ascertained his final view on this.

In 1996 a bracelet of 44 dentalium shell beads was found around the arm of skeleton 1924 (1921.X3) and two pendants - one of bone and one of stone - were found below the chin of the same skeleton (1921 X1, 1921.X2). During 1997 six further items were recovered from heavy residue left unsorted last year - two more dentalium beads (1921.H4,H5); three stone beads, all of different colour and type (1921.H1,H2,H3); and another bone pendant (1921.H6). This was clearly the other half of the one found last year, which had been broken and then reworked.

In 1996 a necklace of 169 black and brown stone beads was found with skeleton 1913, burial 35 in the north-west platform of Building 1. These were labelled 1479 X1. During the 1997 season a further 48 beads of the same type were retrieved from the heavy residue unsorted last year (1479.H1 and 1479.H4), making 217 beads from that burial.

Skeleton 1963 was accompanied by an antler scoop (1965.X1) 101.3mm long and 32.3mm wide at its broadest point. It is shallow, roughly ovoid but narrower at one end. It appears never to have had a handle. The outside is lightly polished, the inside is rougher in the centre with smooth areas at either end worn from use. This was a disturbed burial consisting only of a torso and recorded as part of burial 29, in the east-central platform of Building 1. The scoop lay in the region of the (missing) right shoulder. Skeleton 1968 lay immediately below 1963, and was also only a torso. It is possible that the scoop actually belongs to 1968, but it appeared to belong to 1963.

1995.X1 is an artefact of uncertain material and type. It survived only as an organic residue on the ribs/breastbone of skeleton 1993, burial 49 in the east-central platform of Building 1. Sample were taken but have not yet been identified. It appeared to be wood, but was unlike the species normally found at the site. Antler is a possibility from its structure, but we have no explanation as to why this piece of antler would not survive when others did. In shape it resembled items referred to by Mellaart as fasteners, which he said were found behind the shoulder of male skeletons. These were almost exclusively made of antler. Some are pierced as one end, or in the middle, others are indented for the attachment of thread. It was not possible to identify a perforation in this residue. Another organic stain appeared to be the remains of a wooden bowl placed beside the skull of skeleton 1993. Samples were taken for identification.

2114.H2 is a mussel shell found with skeleton 2115, burial 200 in the east-central platform. It was to the north of the skeleton, which was facing north, roughly between the skull and hand. No traces of any contents were found.

2119.X1-X5 are bone rings found on the left hand of juvenile skeleton 2119, burial 200 (I think the burial number was later changed by Gavin) in the east-central platform of Building 1. All five rings had been cut from a single bone and evidence of wear supported the excavator's belief that in two instances there were two on one finger. Although they appear quite large, the hole is small, suitable only for a fairly small hand, and there is little doubt from the wear evidence that they were worn in life by juvenile 2119, who was buried with everyday rings on the left hand. It is possible that only the two most worn rings, with wear patterns fitting them together, were worn habitually, with the other three for occasional use. Wearing all five would render many tasks difficult.

Skeleton 2199, burial 205, was a neonate buried in the foundation fill beneath Building 1 I the area of the south-west platform. Four items were found within the cut - a flint chip on top of the skull, a bird bone against the back of the cut, a chunk of yellow ochre behind the skull, and a fragment of a grinding stone beneath the skeleton. These items have not been forthcoming from the finds staff, and therefore I have not been able to examine them.

Skeleton 2197, a neonate buried in the foundation layer of Building 1 in the region of the south-west platform, was placed on a chunk of a grinding stone. This item has not reached me, so I have been unable to examine it.

Skeleton 2532, burial 211, was a neonate placed on the skull of an adult (2527) buried in the foundation layers of Building 1 in the north-central area. It appeared to have tiny bone rings on several fingers and toes. These have been identified as sections of a bird's oesophagus, and it is thought that they were not worked. Nevertheless, they may genuinely have been used as bone rings. These have not been forthcoming from the finds lab and therefore I have not been able to examine them. A fragment of red-painted plaster was found by the skull. It is not clear whether this was placed there intentionally or was merely in the backfill.

Skeleton 2527 was an adult buried in the foundation make-up of Building 1 in the north-central area. An unidentified organic material was placed in the bottom of the grave, to the north. It is thought this could be leather, skin or felt, but analysis is awaited.