Çatalhöyük 2002 Archive Report

ÇATALHÖYÜK 2002 ARCHIVE REPORT

Human Remains 2002

Lori D Hager and Basak Boz

Abstract

The 2002 field season at Çatalhöyük yielded a minimum of 9 new individuals in the Bach area. No further human remains were found in Building 3. All of the new human remains were found in Space 87, a room located to the south of Building 3. This space is separated from Building 3 by a double wall. Only the eastern portion of Space 87 was investigated in the 2002 field season. Both adults and juveniles were found in a relatively small area in the south-central portion of Space 87. Disturbance of one burial during the burial event of another was common. Preservation of the bones varies from poor to good.

Introduction

Human remains were uncovered during the 2002 excavations by the BACH team in the North area at Çatalhöyük. Ten Neolithic individuals were recovered from Building 3 during previous excavations but no additional human skeletons were found in this building during the 2002 field season. The focus of the BACH human remains team this year was space 87, one of three rooms located directly south of Building 3 with a double wall between them. Space 87 is the room located at the southwest corner of Building 3. The eastern portion of Space 87 is clearly distinguished as a room with intact north, south and east walls. The western portion of Space 87 remains unknown since it currently extends under the existing tent structure. Investigation of Space 87 in the 2002 season was therefore confined to this eastern portion of the room.

Excavation of Space 87 revealed a room of relative importance with some walls painted red, platform features, and several Neolithic individuals buried in close proximity to one another. At times, the burial of one individual clearly disturbed a burial from earlier times while other burials were found intact and undisturbed. Animal disturbance was evident throughout the burial pit.

Elements from a minimum of 9 individuals were removed during the 2002 field season. Seven of these individuals were primary inhumations. Two individuals are represented by single extra bones: one an adult mandible, another an adult humerus.

All of the new individuals were located in a relatively small, oval shaped area in the south-central area Space 87. The burial cuts in the floors were clear for most of the burials although the later cuts tended to overlap earlier ones, particularly in the central portion of the space, so that only the edges of the earlier cuts were visible to us. Nonetheless, it is possible to reconstruct the order of the burials from earlier to later times.

Additional bones were encountered at the end of the season directly under the skeletons described here but these were not removed during the 2002 season. These new human remains include at least one additional adult (Sk. 8598) and an infant (Sk. 8596) within a large basket.

Space 87

Burial 1002, Skeleton 8409

This was a primary inhumation that was partially disturbed during the burial of a later individual, Sk.8410. The majority of the body of Sk.8409 remained intact so that the original burial position and orientation of the body could be determined. The body was in a tightly flexed position on its right side, with the main axis of the body oriented east-west and the apex of the head pointing to the east. Sk. 8409 is immediately north of Sk 8410 who was found flexed and oriented in the same position. Preservation of Sk. 8409 varies from good to poor.

Sk. 8409 is an adolescent, aged between 13-15 years at the time of death. Sex is indeterminate. The individual suffered from dental problems such as dental caries and enamel hypoplasia. No grave goods were found with this individual.

Burial 1005, Skeleton 8410

This was a primary inhumation that resulted in the disturbance of an earlier burial, Sk. 8409, and possibly others. Sk. 8410 was found in a tightly flexed position, on its right side, with the main axis of the body oriented east-west with the apex of the head pointing to the east. This is the same position and orientation as Sk. 8409. Unlike Sk. 8409 who had various elements moved from anatomical position, Sk. 8410 was fully articulated without having been disturbed. The burial of Sk. 8410 clearly came later in the sequence relative to Sk. 8409. Preservation of the bones is fair to good.

Sk. 8410 is a male, aged between 44-50 years of age at the time of death. This individual suffered from degenerative joint disease in the spinal column, pelvis and hands. No grave goods were found in direct association with this individual. However, a bone belt buckle and hook were found within the upper levels of the burial fill surrounding Sk. 8410 and Sk. 8409. It is possible that these bone artefacts were originally associated with one of these individuals.

Burial 1005, Skeleton 8423

This burial is a primary inhumation whose burial pit was distinct within the floor of the upper occupational levels of Space 87. Sk. 8409 and 8410 were located just north of Sk. 8423. The individual had been placed on its left side, tightly flexed at the hips and at the right knee. The left lower leg was extended at the knee. The main axis of the body of Sk. 8423 was oriented in an east-west direction with the apex of the head pointing to the east. Both arms were extended alongside the body. The preservation of the bone is fair to poor; the cranium, for example, is highly fragmented.

Sk. 8423 is a juvenile, aged between 8-9 years old at the time of death. Sex is indeterminate. Preliminary dental analysis indicates the presence of enamel hypoplasia and calculus on some of the teeth. Several teeth are chipped. No grave goods were found with this individual. A black residue was found around the thoracic cavity.

Burial 1007, Skeleton 8490

This primary inhumation consists of a nearly complete skeleton that had been disturbed in its cranial aspect during the interment of Sk. 8523 at a later date. The skull was first considered a new individual (Sk. 8425) but subsequent excavations revealed these bones to belong to the same individual, Sk. 8490. In addition, the burial of Sk. 8490 appears to have disturbed Sk. 8494, an infant from an earlier burial event. The cranium of Sk. 8490 was displaced to the east. The rest of the body remained intact in a tightly flexed position with the lower body on its right side and the upper body resting more on its back. The main axis of the body was oriented to the east. The lower arms and hands were placed between the flexed legs. Preservation of the bones is good.

Sk. 8490 is an adolescent who was 13-15 years old at the time of death. Sex is indeterminate. The individual had suffered from anemia and showed evidence of calculus build up and enamel hypoplasia. No grave goods were found with Sk. 8490.

Burial 1007, Skeleton 8494

This was a primary inhumation that may have been disturbed during the burial of SK. 8490 at a later date. Sk. 8494 was discovered in the area of the hip and feet of Sk. 8490. The burial cuts for Sk. 8490 and Sk. 8494 were indistinguishable from one another. The position and orientation of Sk. 8494 was difficult to determine due to the state of disturbance of the bones. Some of the elements of the axial skeleton appear to be articulated although the majority of the bones are disarticulated or missing entirely. This suggests at least partial disturbance of Sk 8494 by later individuals and/or by post-depositional animal disturbance. Preservation of the bones is fair to good except for the highly fragmented cranium and mandible.

Sk. 8494 is an infant, aged 4-6 months at the time of death. Sex is indeterminate. No grave goods were found with this individual.

Burial 1012, Skeleton 8584

This individual was a primary inhumation. The burial cut was only evident at its eastern edge since the rest had already been disturbed by later burial events. The main axis of the body is oriented north-south with the head pointing to the south. Sk 8584 was located immediately under Sk. 8423. At the same level and to the west was an infant, Sk. 8587. Sk. 8584 was tightly flexed at the knees and hips, placed on its back, tilted slightly onto its right side. The arms were flexed at the elbow such that the arms extended forward, placed between the legs. Preservation of the bones is poor. Both the feet are missing due to disturbance by animals and/or disturbance for the burial of Sk. 8410.

Sk. 8584 is a female, aged between 44-50 years at the time of death. She suffered from degenerative joint disease in the spinal column and osteoporosis as evidenced throughout the many elements of her body. No grave goods were found associated with Sk. 8584.

Burial 1013, Skeleton 8587

The remains of this infant were found scattered in the western portion of the burial pit, under Sk. 8490, and to the west of Sk. 8584 at the same level. The burial cut was distinct in the plaster floor at its western edge only. Although Sk. 8587 was clearly disturbed, some elements of the axial skeleton remained intact although the majority of the skeleton is scattered. Some elements are missing due to later activities by humans and/or animals. The body may have been placed on its left side with the legs flexed at the hip and knees. Preservation of the bones is good.

Sk. 8587 is an infant who was aged from newborn to 2 months old at the time of death. Sex is indeterminate. Yellow ochre was found in association with the cranium