ÇATALHÖYÜK 2004 ARCHIVE REPORT

Excavations of the South Area

Building 44, South Summit Area

Roddy Regan

Çatal core Team
Supervised by: Roddy Regan
Site Assistants: Richard Turnbull & Alex Pryor (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Excavation commenced on the South Summit area on 28/6/2004, continuing on from the reopening of the area in the 2003 season. Much of the 2003 work concentrated on removing the remnants of deposits last worked on by the Summit Team from the University of Thessalonki in 1997 directed by Kostas Kotsakis. This effectively meant our work this year had been simplified by the removal of these remnant deposits, leaving relatively ‘clean' deposits to deal with.

It became clear, however, that many of the deposits excavated by the Thessalonki Team as belonging to a single structure, Building 10, in fact belonged to two different buildings. This became apparent when the excavated floors clearly started to run under walls that had been considered contemporary, namely walls F.102, F.103 and F.105. The earlier structure was therefore numbered Building 44, and those features and deposits erroneously allocated were reallocated to their respective structures. The confusion perhaps arose due to the very similar wall alignments of both buildings and perhaps the tendency for floor deposits to be much eroded (by roots and animals) along the interfaces between walls and floors. From the Thessalonki Teams unit records it appeared that only those features associated with the mortar/plaster floors F.116 and F.117 belonged to the earlier structure, Building 44, while the deposits above these belonged to the later building, Building 10.

Despite the confusion about the walls sequence, the internal size and the layout of the walls of the early structure, Building 44, was similar to the later building.

The internal layout of Building 44 consisted a series of platforms and benches laid out along the eastern wall, a platform in the northern bay area of the building and a platform in the southwestern corner. An oven cut into the southern wall of the structure. There were four mud brick constructed pilasters aligned on the inner walls. The central area of the building beyond the oven and platform areas was occupied by a series of ‘clean' plaster/mortar floors. While the excavation of the building is not yet complete, it would seem that this general internal layout was integral from the start.

Özet

Güney Summit alanındaki kazılar 28/6/2004 tarihinde başlamış ve 2003 yılındaki kazılarda bırakıldığı yerden devam edilmiştir. 2003 yılındaki yapılan kazıların büyük bir kısmı 1997 yılında Kostas Kotsakis başkanlığındaki yapılan Thessaloniki Üniversitesinden arkeologların oluşturduğu Summit ekibi tarafından kazılan ve yarım kalan tabakaların tamamlanması ile geçmiştir. Bu durum bizim de bu sene, bu yarım kalan tabakaları kaldırmamız ve tabakalrı temizleyip alanı çalışılabilir hale getirmemiz anlamına gelmekte idi.

Bununla beraber, Thessaloniki ekibi tarafından bir yapı olarak kazılan ve Bina 10 diye adlandırılan yapının tek bir yapıya değil iki ayrı yapıya ait olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu durum biribiri ile çağdaş diye tanımlanan duvarların (F.102, F.103 ve F.105) altında yatan tabanların temizlenip ortaya çıkması ile açıklık kazanmıştır. Dolayısıyla daha erken evreye ait yapı Bina 44 olarak tanımlanmış ve bına içine yerleştirilen öğe (feature) ve tabakalar yeniden yerleştirilmiştir. Buradaki karışıklık muhtemelen bu iki binanın duvarlarının yapısının benzerlik göstermesi ve tabanların büyük ölçüde tahribat geçirmesi sonucu zor ayrılır hale gelmesi ile ilgilidir. Thessaloniki ekibi ünite kayıtlarına göre yanlızca sıvalanmış tabanlara ait (F.116 ve F.117) öğeler erken evre yapısına (Bina 44) aitken bu tabakalrın üstğndekiler daha geç bir binaya aittir (Bina 10).

Duvarların dizimindeki karışıklığa rağmen, erken yapının iç ölçeği ve düzeni (Bina 44), daha geç evreye ait bina ile (Bina 44) aynılık gösterir.

Bina 44'üm iç düzeninde doğu duvarının önünde uzanan bir takım platformlar, oturaklar ile kuzey alanında bir platform ve güneybatı köşesinde bir platform yer alır. Yapının güney duvarının içine kesilmiş bir ocak. Dört tane sıvalı kerpiçten oluşan iç duvar. Ocak ve platformların bulunduğu alanların ötesindeki merkez alan ise bir dizi ‘temiz' sıvalanmmış tabanlardan oluşur. Binanın kazısı tamamlanmamış olsa da, binanın tüm iç yapısı bundan ibarettir.

Excavations

It was decided that the later walls actually belonging to the later building and any left over associated deposits should be removed. This in itself proved potentially problematical, especially to the east of the structure where wall F.102 possibly abutted or retained later deposits, for this reason this was only partially removed during this season. The associated deposits within wall F.102 were (11224), (11225), (11436), (11462), (11463), (11464) and (11475). The south wall F. 103 ((10610), (11465)) and the north wall F.105 (10631), (10362) proved less problematical and were totally excavated. Pit (11444) also may have belonged to a phase later than Building 44 as it cut into wall F.104, although whether it belonged to building 10 is not clear. The pit contained a grindstone, a rub-stone and two obsidian pieces ((11442), (11443))

Building 44

Despite the confusion about the walls sequence, the internal size and the layout of the walls of the early structure, Building 44, was similar to the later building. The main internal part of the building consisted of a rough rectangular shape measuring 4.4-4.6m E-W and 4.6-5.4m N-S. A small rectangular ‘bay' measuring 2.6m by 1.4m lay at the northeast of the structure.

The walls of Building 44 consisted of walls F.104, F.1340 and F.1341 respectively forming the western, eastern and southern walls of the structure with walls F.1323, F.1324 and F.1339 comprising the arrangement of walls to the north.

The internal layout of the building consisted a series of platforms and benches laid out along the eastern wall, from south to north; Platform F.1312, Bench F.1310, Platform F.1320 and Platform F.1321. Another platform, F.1307, also occupied the northern bay area of the building. The southwestern corner was also occupied by a platform, Platform F.1314, while an oven, F.1313, cut into the southern wall of the structure. Three mud brick constructed pilasters aligned the inner walls, F.1308, F.1309 and F.1335, while a fourth probably existed opposite F.1309 at the south east. The central area of the building beyond the oven and platform areas was occupied by a series of plaster/mortar floors. While the excavation of the building is not yet complete, it would seem that this general internal layout was integral from the start.

Each feature whether bench, platform, floor or oven displayed their own morphologies and the discussion below is based the developments within and around those features, rather than being an attempt at an intra-feature wide discussion of development across the building. However, as many features and deposits related both physically and stratigraphically with others, an attempt has been made at the broad phasing of the building, which appears at the end of the main discussion.

Figure 44: Central area floors in Building 44

Within the later phases of the building there appeared to be no apparent formalised division between the floors to the north and south of the building, a division that appeared within the earlier phases of the structure. This formal division ran in a line between the western side of Bench F.1310 to the north eastern side of Platform F.314. Within the later phases of the floor sequence, and where they survived to any extent, the surfaces covered both the northern and southern parts of the building. At least 27 deposits were removed in sequence. Those floors listed below highlighted in bold type were plaster surfaces the rest being make-ups or levelling deposits in between the surfaces. Those listed in italics are deposits that consisted of both plaster and make-up; (8076), (8077), (8078), (8079), (8080), (8081), (8082), (8083), (8084), (8085), (8086), (8087), (8088), (8089), (8090), (8091), (8093), (8094), (10614), (10625), (10626), (10627), (10629), (10630), (10636), (10639) and (10643). Of those floors listed above few had any accumulation deposits on them and remained ‘clean' to the eye. Floor deposits (8091) and (8094) both showed signs of scorching and may indicate hearth areas or some burning activity. Towards the oven area to the south of the building a small patch of ash/oven material, (10634), lying in dip (10635) lay over floor (10619). Another indication of activity on the floors was grindstone pit F.1329 (10621), which retained almost half of a grindstone in situ (11203), with a clear impression of where the other half probably sat (this removed in antiquity) (Fig 45). The pit also contained an ashy deposit (11202) along with backfilled deposit (11201) and slumped floor repair deposits (10633) and (10620).

As mentioned above a clear division could be seen dividing the northern and southern floor areas of the building, this division appearing once floor (10636) and make up (10639)/(10643) had been excavated. This was seen as a demarcation of the ‘clean' and ‘dirty' areas of the building, the later around the hearth, oven and entrance area to the south of the structure. The constant reaffirmation of this boundary by the layering of different floor sequences to the north and south tends to suggest a real physical barrier, perhaps in the form of a screen.

The sequence of floors to the north within the ‘clean' area consisted of units: (10667), (10668), (10676), (10677), (10686), (10689), (10692), (10696), (11205), (11219), (11244), (11286), (11288), (11293) and (11407). Of these floor (10667) had an area of scorching, again perhaps indicating a temporary hearth area or some heating activity conducted over/on the floor. Another deposit of note within the sequence was make-up/levelling deposit (11288), which consisted of burnt mud-brick/demolition material. The primary floor in the building was (11293) along with make-up (11407), these above what appears to be a homogenous dumped deposit (11416) which we hope will be the upper fill of the next building sequence.

The floor sequence within the ‘dirty' southern area of the structure consisted of units: (10623), (10684), (11210), (11215), (11221), (11222), (11223), (11220), (11227), (11237), (11257) and (11299). While these floors were termed as being within the ‘dirty' area of the structure few showed any signs of having been anything but clean. The exceptions being ashy deposit (11222) over floor (11223) and floor (11237), the later containing charcoal, small fragments of bone, as well as phytolith remnants. Probably set within floor (11237) was pottery vessel (11235) which appeared to have been utilised within subsequent floor resurfacing, these lapping up to the in situ vessel (Fig. 46).

The southern face of Platform F.1307 and a narrow strip along its southern upper surface had been painted red. Platform F.1307 ((11638), (10641) and (10642)) sealed earlier platform sequence F.1324 ((10671), (10678)) this also had traces of red pigment along its southern face. Another platform sequence F.1332 ((11252), (11297), 1414), (11423)) lay beneath Platform F.1324, only this time the lower platform had been modified as an oven or hearth area. F.1330 (10680).

It has already been suggested that Platform F.1307 and Platform F. 1321 were surfaced/plastered as one unit in the later platform sequence. Similarly Platform F. 1321 and Platform F.1320 to the south, the upper surfaces of both perhaps level and treated one. Two continuous plaster coatings covering the western face of both of the platforms, (10657) and (10679) suggest that this may have been the case.
The construction of Platform F.1321 was relatively straightforward. The upper surface (11276) sealed a preparation layer or make up deposit (11279), this in turn sealed three levelling deposits (11283), (11289) and (11471). A low mud-brick retaining construction or wall (11418) contained the levelling deposits. This phase platform construction overlay the remnants of a section of a burnt wall construction, hearth/oven F.1337 (11485). A dump or levelling deposit (11479) may be associated with F. 1337, however this showed no signs burning.

Excavation within the north eastern area of the building ceased at this point, however it was clear that Platform F.1321, sealed an earlier platform and bench sequence, these respectively numbered F.1344 and F.1343.

Of all the platforms, the excavation of Platform F.1320 in the centre west wall of the building has proved the most complicated. The complex nature of the strata reflects the fact that the platform was utilised for burial.

Figure 47: Platforms arranged along the north and east walls, Building 44. Looking N

The first indication that the platform may have contained burials was seen after the removal of plaster surface (10687), this surface showing no signs of later disturbance or cuts through it. Below the surface however, at least three cut features could be discerned, one possible cut F.1327 (11217), was centrally placed within the platform. Excavation of this feature was initiated with the full expectation of locating a burial within the cut. This expectation was further reinforced with the recovery of disarticulated human bone from the fill of the pit (10691). However as we excavated deeper it soon became apparent we had gone through the base of the original cut and had started to excavate similar fills of earlier burials, as indicated by articulated human remains disappearing into our arbitrary sections. Its possible then that pit F.1327 may be explained as a burial removal pit. This interpretation was possibly reinforced by the discovery of another such pit (11265), this slightly earlier in the platform sequence, being separated from Pit F.1327 by three plaster and make up layers. Here again the fill of the pit, (11254), contained disarticulated human remains but no articulated body. The interpretation of these pits as retrieval pits would perhaps be unlikely if both of the ‘retrieval' cuts coincided exactly with the original burial cuts. In the instance, however, of ‘retrieval' cut (1165), what appeared to be the remnants of an original burial cut, (11410)/(11424), survived lower down in the platform floor sequence. Remnants of two other possible pits, (11294)/(11420) and (11422), also were evidenced within the platform sequence but these were so truncated as to make even a putative interpretation impossible.

Two postholes were located towards the western edge or ‘front' of the platform, (11248) and (11239). The location of the posts could suggest they supported some form of adornment to the front of the platform or indeed they represent a partition support, both of these suggestions of course open to question.

The posts and the pits were stratigraphically located within overall platform sequence of surfaces and levelling deposits: (10687), (11226), (11230), (11241), (11243), (11251), (11290), (11291), (11292), (11429), (11400), (11405), (11408), (11433), (11434), (11435), (11436), (11431), (11461), (11448), (11458), (11460), (11467), (11469), (11490), (11491), and (11473) (Fig. 48). Within this sequence two obsidian clusters were uncovered, these situated along the northern and southern edges of the platform. The southern cluster, deposit (11473), remained unexcavated this year and lay up against Bench F.1310. To the north of the platform surface (11431) contained cluster (11452) along its interface with Platform F.1321/Bench F.1343. The removal of the plaster surface sequence from the platform also revealed what may have been the basal remnants of mouldings situated on the eastern wall of the building and partially over pilaster F.1308. These took the form of two thick strips of plaster/mortar (11432) and (11478), although what these represented remains obscure.

The lower, possibly construction phase of platform F.1320 was reached during this years excavation with some deposits only partially excavated, these include units (11466), (11470) and (11472). The burials mentioned above, as seen in section, would appear to belong to this early phase of the platforms construction and indeed the building construction. Units allocated to the unexcavated articulated burials were (11493) and (11494), while unit (11496) was allocated to loose bones that came from around the articulated remains.

Cut through the uppermost surface within the platform sequence was posthole (8097) (fill (8096)). The positioning of this post would suggest that it acted as reinforcement to pilaster F. 1309. Similarly positioned, but cut through an earlier floor in the platform, (11426), was post setting (11232) (fill (11264)), this suggesting the need for structural support was an ongoing problem in this part of the building.

The south western edge of Platform F.1312 was very disturbed and the area was overlain with a series of patchy deposits that appeared to lie within a depression. Situated to the east of the main oven area and adjacent to the southern wall, it was suggested the mixed deposits and the depression possibly indicated the foot of a ladder area or entrance hole. Attempts appeared to have been made to level or repair this area as it was an entrance-way it was probably subjected to constant ware. Repair deposits were evidenced as unit's (10653), (10656), (1065) and (10699). Between these repair episodes was a series mixed deposits that contained clusters of pottery sherds or near complete vessels as well as bone, obsidian and several stone tools. The clusters were individually numbered: (10664), (10665), (10666), (10672), (10675), (10673) and (10674). The deposit surrounding the clusters was unit (10670), the whole lying within depression (10682) and grouped as F.1325. A conclusive explanation of why so many artefacts came to be situated within this area has so far eluded us, although the suggestion that the ‘under stair' area was used for storage seems attractive. Only with the removal of the above deposits was it possible to see an elongated slot/cut F.1331 (11247), this perhaps indicating the actual position of the foot of a ladder. The slot itself appeared to have been subject to repair and deliberate filling or levelling seen with deposits (11231), (11246), (11259) and (11272).

The Greek team recorded Platform F.112 and its subsequent northwards extension as occupying the south west of the building. The platform appeared to be related to Hearth F. 123 and possibly Oven F.111. Below the Platform F.112 sequence was sealed platform extension F.1317. The northern face of this platform having remnants of applied red pigment (8099). Sealed behind the painted facing was a sequence facings to the northern edge of the platform (8095), (10604), (10601), (10605), (10606/10611) and (10645).

Platform F.1314 lay below Platform F.1317, the earlier platform probably contemporary with hearth F.1328. It was also apparent that this platform was slumping badly to the south-west and as such the upper surfaces of the platform had become detached from the surrounding floor deposits and meant the surface deposits on the platform could be removed in isolation. In all 11 surfaces and make up deposits were removed from this platform: (8071), (10600), (10644), (10649), (10652), (10654), (10661), (10663) and (11295), these retained in the primary construction phase by mud brick retention wall (11430). Of the plaster surface deposits both (10644) and (10649) showed indications of having been painted red, although these deposits were much eroded. There were also the remnants of three facings on the eastern edge of the platform (10613), (10646) and (10647), with (10613) showing signs of having been painted red.

An infant burial F. 1334 ((11402), (114030, (11403)) was placed between primary levelling deposit (11295) and primary floor (11252).

The cause of the slumping within the platform area is as yet unknown. However, excavation of the whole platform sequence revealed the walls of a building below, and excavation of the contents of this structure may provide an answer.

Benches

Bench F.1310 was only partially excavated this year, this mainly in the form of the removal of several plaster and mortar renderings (10679), (11249), (11252), (11256) and (11474). The hoped for bucrannium holes in the top of the bench proved disappointing as the southern most, (11477), was only millimetres deep. Another bench F.1343 was revealed in the later stages of the excavation lying to the north of Platform F.1320.

Ovens and Hearths

Several areas within the structure appear to have been utilised for fire installations, the most apparent situated in the centre of the southern wall of the building

Oven F.111 as excavated by the Greek team and last season in 2003 appeared to be the latest in a sequence of ovens cut into the southern wall of the structure. Remnants of a floor (10608) and wall lining (10609) belonging to this phase of oven had survived and were excavated this season. Below F.111 was oven F.1313 this consisting of a sequence of three-baked floor levels: (10612), (10618) and (10622). These lay over make-up/foundation layer (10622) lying within construction cut (10624).

Oven F.1313 in turn appeared to be a replacement for earlier oven F.1326, similarly set into the south central wall of the building. The sequence consisted of two baked floors (10688) and (11262) separated by levelling deposit (11261). Remnants of a truncated wall (11263) existed to the north and east of the floor deposits, this having been refaced on the north at least three times, with plaster/mortar deposits: (11208), (11214) and (11218). The whole of the oven construction was supported on a mud brick plinth (11266); this sitting in construction cut (11278). Two near complete pottery vessels may have been utilised alongside the ovens, both set within floors to the north east of the oven area. Already mentioned above was vessel (11235) set within floor (11237), the second vessel being (11446) set within cut (11447). However, these were also set near the foot of the ladder area and different functions could be postulated.

An earlier oven F.1333 lay north of the later sequence situated along the southern wall of the structure. While badly truncated this consisted of a series of three baked floors and a levelling deposit, respectively (11274), (11275), (11276) and (11280)

Along with the ovens the building also contained a sequence of hearth structures. The latest in this sequence was that excavated by the Greek team, Hearth F.123, set on a square plinth and painted red along its outer face. A similar early plinth hearth, F.1328, lay east of and probably related to Platform F.1314. The upper surfaces of F.1328 were badly disturbed with only the possible remnants of scorched surface (10698) still apparent. Remnants of re-facing existed along the western side of the hearth with deposits (10695), (11242), (11255), (11258). The hearth lay over, cut into, and utilised the remnants of earlier oven sequence F. 1333. Set within the hearth was pot (11268) (filled with (11267 and (11271)), the vessel no doubt deliberately placed to be utilised with some hearth function, this as yet unknown.

An earlier hearth is suggested by scorched/burnt area F.1336, this sealed below oven sequence F. 1333. Other areas of scorching or burning were observed some of these possibly suggesting hearth areas. As mentioned above in the discussion of the floors, scorching was noticed within several patches although never more than one per floor surface possibly suggesting a movement of a ‘hearth' area over time. To the north of the building two remnants of burnt walling F.1324 (11680) and F.1337 (11485) were respectively situated on Platforms F.1332 and F.1321. There function beyond suggesting burning have taken place is still unclear. Possibly contemporary with the primary phases of the construction of the building was burnt area F. 1338, perhaps indicating a temporary cooking area set up by the people building the structure, or more enigmatically some form of ritual having taken place during the early construction phase.

Wall blocking

Two areas of wall blocking were removed during this year's excavation. There appeared to be a readjustment or blocking inserted into wall F.1323 at the northwest of the building, (10659)/(10660), although as yet, its purpose remains unclear. Better understood perhaps was blocking facing (11413)/(11425), this rendering applied over an obvious blocking into a ‘room' to the west of the present structure, the room probably contemporary with an earlier building phase.

Pilasters

Three mud-brick pilasters lined the walls of the building F. 308, F. 309 and F. 335, with no doubt a fourth (now gone) situated against the south western wall and paired with F. 1309. f these only F.1335 was fully excavated, consisting of mud-brick core (11412) rendered with plaster face (11411). Within the construction material and possibly in a small pit was bone cluster (11481), this including two worked bone tools.

Of the other pilasters only plaster surfaces or mortar renderings were removed which for the most part were equivalent to resurfacing on the eastern internal wall. With F.1309 these were units (11209), (11211), (11483), (11484) and (11488). Those deposits associated with F. 1308 were (11277), (11432), (11480) and (11478).

Building Morphology

The careful removal of each sequence of floor surface and make-up within the building enabled us to physically and stratigraphically relate these to the platform and oven areas, this producing a picture of feature development within the structure. To this extent enough of the building has been excavated to suggest broad phases within the life of the structure, these may and probably will change when the rest of the building has been excavated and the more subtle relationships studied in greater detail. Even at this stage however, it must be remembered that the internal features within the building displayed a fluidity of development that is difficult to capture within phase groups or a single illustration. However an attempt has been made and this is reproduced below within the figures.