ÇATALHÖYÜK 1999 ARCHIVE REPORT

Pottery / Çanak-Çömlek

Jonathan Last

Abstract

A relatively large assemblage of Neolithic pottery was recovered from the South Area, most buildings produced small assemblages and the largest group cane from midden space 115. A greater range of fabric types was found in the early levels than had been previously recognised. No pottery was found in level XII or earlier deposits. The BACH area produced a small assemblage of neolithic pottery and the KOPAL area produced Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic pottery with some unusual fabrics and forms.

Özeti

Nispi olaraktan Güney alanından geniş ölçüde Neolitik çanak-çömlek elde edilmiştir. Çoğu yapıdan küçük topluluklar elde edilmiş, en geniş topluluk Alan 115’den gelmiştir. Engeniş çeşitlemeyi erken tabakalar vermektedir. Tabaka XII veya altındaki tabakalar çanak-çömlek vermemiştir.BACH alanı azsayıda çanak-çömlek vermiş ve KOPAL alnı ise daha önce rastlanmayan hammadeye ve forma sahip Neolitik ve Erken kalkolitik çanak-çömleği vermiştir.

1. SOUTH AREA

The SOUTH area produced a relatively large assemblage of Early Neolithic pottery (363 sherds) from 16 spaces. The main points which emerged are:

i) Most internal spaces produced relatively small assemblages, largely from secondary contexts (infill, make-up, walls etc). This confirms the pattern observed for the whole site, at least from level VI down, that potsherds were generally not left in living areas and vessels rarely abandoned intact. The main exceptions, where large parts of single pots were found on or close to floors, are the 'dirty' floor 5231/5242 in Space 182 and 3999/4273 'below the floor' in Space 163. There is also some indication that the variety of fabrics in the early levels may be rather greater than previously recognized (see especially Space 182).

ii) The largest assemblage (188 sherds = 52%) came from the midden in Space 115. It has long been clear that the external middens contain most of the site's ceramics (see archive reports, 1996-1998) and indeed that some structure may be observable, given information on the distribution of material and sherd joins between different midden layers, or across space within the same layer. The excavation has usually had different priorities, however, hence the removal of most of the midden in 1999 as the same unit (4121), which produced 172 sherds - precluding more detailed spatial analysis of the kind attempted for previous seasons.

iii) No pottery at all was recovered from the pre-building layers in the deep sounding. The lowest sherds came from a few units in the upper part of Space 181 (c level XI). None of the fired clay objects recovered from lower down in the deep sounding (and in the lower deposits in the KOPAL area) can be reconstructed as vessels, and they are completely different in fabric from the level VIII-XI pottery. The absence of pottery from the base of the mound may indicate either a genuine 'aceramic' site (albeit one with a certain level of fired clay technology) or simply that pottery was not being discarded in these deposits, perhaps because they were a long way from contemporary houses. If the deep sounding units look like a 'normal' midden in terms of other types of material this would provide a strong case for the earliest occupation at the site indeed being aceramic. The problem then shifts to a consideration of the types of contexts in which pottery was first deployed at Çatalhöyük. Unfortunately the small assemblages and lack of in situ material may severely limit what can be said.

Table 17: Pottery sherds recovered from South area in 1999

Space 159

This is probably part of a level VII building, from which most of a mineral-gritted dark-faced burnished bowl was recovered in 1998. The few sherds from the fill units excavated in 1999, however, are predominantly thick-walled, vegetable-tempered wares of 'standard' level VIII type.

Space 115

The level VIII midden was also dominated by the typical Early Neolithic wares: unoxidised fabrics tempered with abundant coarsely chopped vegetable matter; smoothed or burnished mottled surfaces ranging from dark grey to light yellowish brown in colour; thick-walled simple bowl forms with upright rims and extremely thick flat bases (e.g. 4121.S67, S68, S161, see Figure 50). In 4121, 25 sherds (15% of the assemblage) were rims and a similar proportion were bases. Most were single sherds but there were four cases of joins across an old break and 12 pairs of non-joining sherds probably from the same vessel.

Twenty-two sherds from Space 115 (12%) were mineral-gritted. A few of these were thin-walled and dark burnished, resembling level VI types (seven of these belong to the same vessel) and indicative of the new ceramic technology which took hold in the course of level VII; others were chunkier and represent transitional forms or a non-vegetable fabric (?similar to clay balls) that may always have been present in small quantities (see below).

Space 163

This space, the larger room in B6 (level VIII), produced the second largest assemblage in 1999, after Space 115. The count includes nine joining sherds of a typical level VIII-type bowl (4273.X1, Figure 51). This vessel has diameters of 140 mm (rim) and 130 mm (base); its height is 100 mm. Further joining pieces of this vessel came from 'Mellaart backfill' unit 3999, suggesting that the backfill was overdug or post-Mellaart factors had disturbed the top of the in situ archaeology. Two other sherds of level VIII type from 3999 might therefore also belong to B6.

Apart from this vessel, the distribution of the sherds within the room was as follows:

Seven sherds are predominantly mineral-gritted, most from infill or floor contexts. Among these are a group from floor layers 4252 which includes a bowl with inturned rim. Another inturned form with an unusual internally thickened rim came from the same unit as the large pot (4273.S1, Figure 51). Clay ball cluster 4291 included an unusual object that appears to be part of a vessel (because it had an interior surface) with a large oblong lug (4291.S3, Figure 51). Hence we see a series of unusual types (fabrics and forms) on the floor of this building as well as a complete pot of more orthodox type.

Space 173

The smaller room adjacent to Space 163 produced 19 sherds. In contrast to the latter nearly all came from fill contexts. They include three mineral-gritted sherds, all thin-walled and 'advanced'-looking for level VIII; one from rakeout 4937 recalls level VI types. Two rims were present, both simple bowl forms; one is part of a group of four joining sherds from fill unit 4321.

Space 170

The room below Space 163 included 14 sherds, 11 of which came from the upper part of the building fill and may be related to the space above (see Space 182). Four of the latter were primarily mineral-gritted and five were rims (two joining). The three sherds from the lower infill or floor were again rather unusual in fabric and form: two were mineral-gritted, while the other had an unusually dense paste with sparse vegetable matter only. The sherd from infill near oven F558 (4624.S1, Figure 52) was a complete profile of a small bowl with rim diameter 100 mm, base diameter 90 mm and height just 65 mm.

Space 182

Twenty-five sherds were found in the space below 173, nine from the upper infill (173/182). Some of these, including a group from 4905, probably belong to the space above, since they and other objects were found around the edges of the room and may well have been pushed down into gaps between wall and floor during occupation of the building above. The joining sherds comprising 4905.X2 (Figure 52) form the profile of another small bowl with flat-topped rim (diameter 140 mm), relatively broad base (diameter 120 mm) and low height (65 mm).

Two significant groups of sherds came from lower down in the Space. The first is a group of eight related sherds from 5210, 5221 and 5223, with reddish burnished surfaces and a unique fabric filled with abundant inclusions of sub-angular light grey or reddish well-sorted quartz. The resulting pottery is rather friable but some of the pieces probably refit, forming the rounded base junction of a vessel probably of simple bowl form, with some possible sooting on the interior surface.

The second group is the large part of a vessel from surface contexts 5226, 5231, 5240 and 5242 (5226.X1 etc, Figure 52). Joining fragments of this pot were spread across most of the space, on a 'dirty' surface associated with organic residues, phytoliths and other objects such as animal bone and clay balls. The vessel is typical in form, a bowl of slightly globular profile with rim diameter 130 mm, base diameter 105 mm and height 100 mm. The fabric was again somewhat unusual, however, with rather sparse vegetable matter augmented by occasional, very coarse fragments of calcareous matter. The vessel had mottled surfaces with some dark ?fire-clouding on the interior of the rim.

These two pots, and perhaps some of the other pieces from B6 and B17, suggest a greater variety of fabrics from the early levels at Çatalhöyük than has previously been recognized (or represented in midden 115). It is possible that they represent early attempts to make pots suitable for use as cooking wares (i.e. that would survive direct heating on a fire and transmit heat efficiently), before the typical dark-faced burnished ware becomes predominant during during levels VII and VI. It will be helpful to try and determine the use of some of these vessels from e.g. residue analysis.

Space 164

Ten sherds came from this space, six belonging to one vessel (4359.X1, Figure 53) from wall F447 - this comprises the base of a large pot (diameter 175 mm) with a steep, angular wall junction. It has a typical vegetable-tempered fabric. Another three sherds from 4304 form part of a very thick-walled vessel containing only sparse vegetable matter.

Spaces 171/172/177/178

These four adjoining level X rooms at the west end of the SOUTH area produced 33 sherds between them, the majority from Spaces 171 and 178. They come from a variety of contexts but tend to be smaller on average than the pieces from the later spaces. Mineral-gritted sherds are also somewhat rarer than in the later buildings (three cases). Space 171 produced two sherds that may be deliberately rounded and two rims of uncertain form. Spaces 177 and 178 yielded a few simple bowl rims.

Space 181

The earliest sherds in the SOUTH area come from the upper layers in Space 181. These are described as a midden/dump (4836), stabling deposits (4850, 5273) and a cleaning unit (4709). However, that in 4836 appears to be an intrusive fragment of Late Neolithic red-slipped ware. The remaining total is five sherds, including one from infill/make-up in Spaces 178/181. Notable once again is a lack of the 'standard' level VIII fabric - the fragment from 5273 lacks vegetable matter while the sherd from 4709 has only rare organic inclusions (these small pieces may not be pot). More certainly, the sherd from 4849 is mineral-gritted while the two joining sherds from 4850 also contain only occasional vegetable inclusions (they are principally filled with common fine/medium quartz and red grits); this vessel also has finely burnished surfaces, which may perhaps be a slip. Hence the earliest pottery as well, such of it as we have, seems to show a variety of fabrics. How closely these relate to the clay balls and other clay objects needs to be determined, e.g. by thin section analysis.

These deposits are equated with level XI. Elsewhere on the site Mellaart excavated a sounding as far down as level XII and recovered pottery from every layer including a level XII building. This may imply (as suggested above) that pottery was not being discarded in the external midden at this time, or perhaps more likely, that the 'level XII' deposits in these two areas are not in fact contemporary.

Other Spaces

Occasional sherds of 'standard' vegetable-tempered type came from Spaces 116/117, 166/167 and stabling deposits north-west of Space 170. A more mixed group of fabrics came from various wall and between-wall fill contexts of different levels.

Unstratified

A large quantity of pottery came from Mellaart's backfill, including earlier and later Neolithic wares, one painted Chalcolithic sherd and a number of Classical sherds. Notable finds include the base of a relatively large thick-walled, mineral-gritted vessel from 4663 (Figure 53). This unit is infill within B18 (Space 172); the vessel is likely to be later in date than this space (perhaps level VII) and it is larger than any other piece from the adjacent group of rooms; however, the range of fabrics in these early layers and the example of the vessel in Space 163 mean a relationship cannot be ruled out.

2. BACH

Only 22 sherds were recovered from the BACH excavations in 1999, none of them definitely on floors. This is probably indicative of the maintenance and discard practices which removed bulky refuse, such as broken pots, from internal contexts, rather than a general lack of pottery in these levels. None of the sherds are related to the group from the building fill, excavated in 1997 and 1998, that belong definitely or probably to the same vessel.

Of the 1999 assemblage one (from 3549) is a fragment of Byzantine (or later) green-glazed ware; another (from 3548) is a Late Neolithic (i.e. level IV or above) or Early Chalcolithic red-slipped fragment. Both sherds are very small and likely to be intrusive. In addition one tiny fragment from 3587 (sample 1) which lacks an internal surface may be a piece of clay ball.

The remaining 19 sherds fall into two groups:

(a) 12 are mineral-gritted wares of level VI type. Mean wall thickness is 4.7 mm; mean sherd size 34.3 mm. The assemblage contains four rims, including both holemouth (closed) and bowl (open) forms. The best-preserved example comprises two joining sherds of a typical dark brown burnished holemouth jar (3531.X1, X2, Figure 54).

(b) 7 are level VII vegetable-tempered fabrics. Mean wall thickness is 7.7 mm and sherd size 30.7 mm. The assemblage includes one simple bowl rim and a finely made small base (3537.S1, Figure 54).

Units 3531, 3560, 3588, 6112, 6132, 6178 and 6201 produced group (a) sherds; 3537 and 3579 group (b); 3559, 3587 and 6147 had sherds of both types. The mixture of wares is very similar to that from B5, which would suggest that the BACH house (Building 3) is at least partly contemporary with this building, even though radiocarbon dates suggest B3 is later than B1. However, the lack of in situ pottery in both B5 and B3 means that the problem of residuality hinders precise ceramic dating; it is notable, for instance, that the group (b) sherds are significantly smaller than group (a).

3. KOPAL

The KOPAL assemblage is an interesting group rather different from the assemblages so far excavated on either the East or West Mound. Stratified material came from the following units in the upper part of the KOPAL stratified sequence (i.e. the backswamp clay and above): 6001, 6005, 6027, 6004, 6020, 6003 and 6083. There is a problem with what is considered intrusive material in some units; it is unclear whether this reflects downward movement of material within the deposits or the collection of unrelated fragments by workmen keen to find something! Single Early Chalcolithic/Late Neolithic sherds from 6033 and 6010 are regarded as contamination, as are wheelmade Classical pieces within Neolithic assemblages from 6001 and 6004.

All the stratified material is probably broadly contemporary. The main features of the assemblage are S-profile bowl forms of Late Neolithic (level IV or above) or Early Chalcolithic type, a proportion of red-slipped surfaces (but no Early Chalcolithic painted wares) and the use of vegetable temper in some cases. While the first two features suggest an assemblage contemporary with the upper levels on the East Mound, the third is more problematic, since all pottery above level VII is supposed to be exclusively mineral-tempered. The more diagnostic red-slipped sherds are indeed mineral-gritted; the vegetable-tempered sherds tend to have light brown, mid-brown or dark grey-brown surfaces, rarely burnished, but very few diagnostic elements in these fabrics were recovered. The vegetable matter is often relatively sparse and mixed with an equal or greater density of mineral grits, which makes the fabrics rather different from the level VIII/level VII types. Either there is a mixing of earlier and later Neolithic material within these levels or (more likely) a previously unrecognized component of Late Neolithic assemblages. Further comparison with material from the Summit area and the 1993-95 surface collections will be necessary.

Table 18: Pottery sherds recovered from KOPAL area in 1999

The lowest material, from 6001/6005, may belong to this late group but could be of genuine level VII type; only four body sherds were recovered.

Cut into this deposit was feature 6026, whose fill (6027) produced two body sherds of the mixed mineral and vegetable-tempered fabric (M/V). Deposit 6004, also above the backswamp, yielded three prehistoric sherds - one of M/V type, one red-slipped (with a little vegetable matter) and one rim of a holemouth jar with incipient neck (a Late Neolithic form).

Above this was deposit 6020, which produced a large assemblage of 85 sherds, including four rims of necked jars or S-profile bowls (two red-slipped and all mineral-tempered) and two bases. Other unusual forms include a possible potdisc (artificially rounded sherd) and a piece of fired clay (perhaps not from a vessel) with a mat impression. The bulk of the assemblage consisted of body sherds, among which 11 (14%) are red-slipped. About 30% of sherds are in fabric M/V.

6003 is a surface which included large parts of two or three vessels. One of these is an S-profile bowl with an upright rim and slightly footed base (6003/1, Figure 55). The rim diameter is 220 mm, the base diameter 140 mm and the height 140 mm. The fabric is tempered with relatively coarse mineral, while the exterior and the interior of the rim has a reddish-brown slip. The interior of the base has an extensive blackened area suggesting the pot was used for cooking. The best parallels for this vessel come from surface scraping and collection in Area 11 (eastern plateau) of the East Mound (see pottery chapter in On the Surface volume) and some material from pit F.101 in the Summit area (level III).

Another feature of suface 6003 was a possible hearth area which included a layer of broken potsherds most belonging to just two vessels. One of these comprised mainly featureless body sherds, with one rim sherd suggestive of a necked holemouth form. It was mineral-gritted with a mid-brown or light reddish brown, lightly burnished exterior. The other vessel was more complete and had a similar form to the bowl described above, although the rim was everted and the base (not preserved) would have been narrower in relation to the rim diameter (not determined). The fabric was relatively finely mineral-tempered, with a few organic voids visible. The exterior was generally dark brown and smoothed, though a finer burnish survived on some sherds; the interior was dark brown or grey-brown and rougher in texture. A significant feature of this pot was the presence of two low horseshoe-shaped lugs positioned just above the point of inflexion on the belly of the pot (6003/2, Figure 55). These appear to be unique in terms of known Neolithic forms, though they show a vague resemblance to the smaller 'vestigial' lugs found on some Early Chalcolithic pots. Perhaps this assemblage represents a transitional group, which might fit the single radiocarbon date taken from this area in 1997 of c 7300 BP.

A further find from 6003 was a low red-slipped ring-base in a mineral-gritted fabric.

The uppermost deposit with pottery in KOPAL is 6083, which is clearly closely related as it produced three body sherds, one of which could belong to the red-slipped bowl from 6003 described above.

The remaining deposits (6002, 6017) comprise unstratified material from cleaning and backfill. The former produced a mixture of Classical, Chalcolithic and Neolithic pottery, including Hellenistic slips, a fine painted carinated bowl rim of classic West Mound type and a Neolithic assemblage similar to the other KOPAL units, including S-profile forms, red slips, M/V fabrics, and an unusual small loop handle.

A nearby trench dug for a pylon, which revealed mudbrick walls, produced five body sherds of Late Neolithic or Early Chalcolithic type.

It appears, therefore, that all the pottery from the KOPAL trench comes from above the backswamp clay and spans the period between East Mound level III and the characteristic Early Chalcolithic I material of the upper levels on the West Mound. Some unusual features of both fabrics and forms require further comparative work, but probably reflect the relative lack of work on the uppermost deposits of the East Mound and whatever lies at the base of the West.

Figures

Figure 50: Pottery from Space 115 (at 1:2)

Figure 51: Pottery from Space 163

Figure 52: Pottery from Space 170 and 182

Figure 53: Pottery from Space 164 (top), unstratified from Space 172 (below)

Figure 54: Pottery from BACH Area

Figure 55: Pottery from KOPAL Area