ÇATALHÖYÜK 1997 ARCHIVE REPORT

Stamp Seals by Ali Türkcan

Firstly, a typological analysis and description will be essential before the discussion to re-examine all material with the new ones discovered in Ankara A. M. Muzesi.The shape and incised patterns on the facesides are two indicators to understand the relevant function and meaning behind the concepts which constitutes the patterns( or symbols).
The forms of the seals could be divided into 4 groups as following:

2, Drilled forms: These objects;Nos,1,7,8,13 are drilled right from the center. The shapes recall wristguards or stone-polishers . They are sub-rectangular or round, drilled at the center of the face-side, in shape. They might be used as pendants. When we think their slightly curving edges and shallow carved patterns. It is hard to think of them as stamp-seals. Especially one of them can not be seal, its form (very rounded ) and its grid pattern (very smooth incision which does not leave any mark) are definitely not suitable for stamping. In fact , these objects which are sharing same patterns (pseudo-meanders), should be considered another assemblage for another purpose.

3, Hand shaped stamps: These forms could be either reflection of ownership as printing the hand onto clay, etc. or remains of U. Paleolithic hand symbolism which is seen also on many Çatalhöyük wallpaintings from shrines of VII.8,VI.B.8, VI.B.10 and VI.B.15 (Mellaart,J;1967;Pl, 41,43)

2) Spirals: These ones,no.21,22, shows spiral on the seal face with a conical handles rising from the base. Face bears deep and wide engraved channel of simple clockwise spiral. These patterns which are very common in Balkan Neolithic seals , makes very close parallels with the ones from E.Neolithic Nea Nikomedia in Greece, Karanovo I-II sites Azmaska, Kirdzali in Bulgaria (J.Makkay,1984) The deep carved ones from N.Nikomedia are especially noteworthy. It should not be forgotten that these cultures are slightly later than Çatalhöyük!
 
 3) Miscellaneous patterns :

THE FUNCTION

On the other hand, they might have been applied on textile bags to show ownership or classify  them , still used on tea or wheat bags in Turkey.

Second, some small cylindyrical stamps; Nos. 25,26 contradicts the seal use with their smooth patterns which does not leave a recognizable mark or trace even on clay. Their shapes and patterns are as if they were made roughly and gropingly. They look like the ones from The Near East. I think, they ,probably, were being used as "calculi" as a counting device. However, the clay balls in uniform size can be considered within this "calculi" system as well. They might have been in use for quantities of grain and livestock. In other words, the earliest tokens probably recorded the most basic staples. A wider argument was made by Denise-Schmandt-Besserat(D,S,Besserat,1997,p;151-156)

Their context are another subject of matter; Especially, the ones coming from burials,Nos.16,23, are noteworthy. They were found in lesser male burials in Level IV and VI , Here the question arises , are they signs of male gender which have the control of the resources in Çatalhöyük, It is hard to answer exactly how they can be associated with male or beyond it, power situation in Çatalhöyük. I think , they will give the best answer If they come up in burials in future excavations, So far, they are only two seals from burials

CONCLUSION