Çatalhöyük 2004 Archive Report

ÇATALHÖYÜK 2004 ARCHIVE REPORT

CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS REPORTS

Stamp Seals

Ali Umut Türkcan

Eskisehir University

Abstract

Six stamp seals were recovered during the 2004 season. Most of the stamp seals (5 of 6 seals) are from the 4040 Area as it was last year. Combined with last seasons recovery (Türkcan 2003), the 4040 Area is proving to be very interesting. All those found this year are made of clay and seem to be fired. Three seals from the 4040 Area are from midden units in Space 226 (8864.X1, 8892.X1, 8854.X1). Some of the designs are similar in style to the ones previously published ( Türkcan in press) and two fit into one of 13 design categories defined earlier. Thus, some new stamp seals (10202.X1, 8864.X1) could be identified in the case of the pattern groups.

Özet

2004 kazı sezonu boyunca altı tane mühür bulunmuştur. 1993 Çatalhöyük kazılarından bu yana en fazla bulunan mühür sayısıdır. Geçen sene de olduğu gibi bu sene de çıkan mühürlerin bir çoğu 4040 alanından gelmektedir (6 mühürün 5'i). Geçen sezonun buluntuları da değerlendirildiğinde (bakınız Türkcan 2003; Arşiv raporu), 4040 alanı çok ilginç bir tablo sergilemektedir. Bu sene bulunan mühürlerin hepsi kilden yapılmış ve pişirilmiştir. 4040 alanından gelen mühürlerin üçü Alan 226'daki çöplük dolgularından gelmektedir (8864.X1, 8892.X1, 8854.X1). Bulunan bazı tipler daha önce yayınlanlarla aynı özellikleri göstermekte (Türkcan 2005: Bölüm 8) ve iki tanesi de daha önce tanımlanan 13 tip kategorisinde yerini bulmaktadır. Bununla beraber yeni bulunan bazı mühürler (10202.X1, 8864.X1) yapılan tipoloji içinde tanımlanabilir.

1) 8892.X1 (4040 Area ) H 3; L 3.5; W 2.2; TH 1.2. Clay. Complete. 5 YR 5/4 Reddish Brown; 4/4 Reddish Brown. Medium fired. Sub-Oval form. This well-preserved seal's execution of the patterns are a bit shallow but enough to give an impression on textile or similar surfaces with colour. The paste is fine quality and seems to be fine. The surface is burnished. Some paste with mica can be recognized in between the incised patterns. The seal face is composed of a symmetrical arrangement of four concentric triangles with a dot pattern in the area in between the first triangle's of every pattern group. These four symmetrical pattern groups pointing towards centre of the seal face that is recalling an “union jack” design. This is a new design of pattern so far. The seal has been discovered in a midden layer of south of Space 226. It has been found in the eastern part of unit; no cut or a related structural feature could be recognized within the midden layer.

Figure 86: Clay stamp seal 8892.X1

2) 10202.X1 (4040 Area) H 2.25; L 3.1; W 2.3; TH (Max. Thickness) 1.5, Clay; Complete. Medium to well fired. 2.5 YR 5/6 Red, 2.5 yr 4/1 (oxidized part, core seen on the broken perimeter), Clay; Medium to well fired. Almost complete (% 5 + ) but the half of seal pattern has been worn and a bit broken at the edge. The pattern composition is very much reminiscent of pattern group 11. ( Coiled motifs divided by parallel lines in the centre) . The similar pattern is already seen on one seal from Level II ( Seal No.II), and is composed of coiling designs that are encircled by rounded lines. Coiling motifs are set diagonally between the lines dividing the face into two panels.

Figure 87: Clay stamp seal 10202.X1

Figure 88: Clay stamp seal 8854.X1

3) 8854.X1 (4040 Area) H 1.1; L 3.5; W1; TH (Max. Thickness) 0.5, Clay; Complete, 10 YR 6/3 pale brown. Medium fired. Paste colour is almost like orange. The seal with its miniature size is the smallest size seal amongst the Çatalhöyük stamp seals so far. The seal face is divided into four areas by a zig-zag line of three triangles. Every zone in between the zig zag lines are filled by small incisions. The seal is from arbitrary layer of midden in Space 226.

4) 8864.X1 (4040 Area) H 2.6; L 4.5; W 3.9; TH 0.95, WH 1.5; Clay; Non-Complete (% 40 +); one side of the seal is broken and very much abraded, Medium to well fired. 10 Y/R 6/4 very yellowish brown, 10 YR 5/1 grey (Handle; two sides of the handle and its extension to the denticulated longer sides are darker probably due to firing) On the apex of the handle some very shallow diagonal are present. The seal face is very flat. The patterns are deeply carved and some spots that are light greyish or white (might be evaporation). The fabric is not compact and fine quality. There is some sandy and tiny calcite temper. The seal is from a midden layer in Space 226. It has been found with several obsidian, flint chips tools, pottery sherds, and bone awls, clay beads.

The form reconstruction seems to be Oval form (Form group 3) that is seen in Level II where there are four examples (Nos. 2, 3, 4 & 5), three examples are from Level IV (Nos.11, 12 & 17) and one example (No.23) is from Level VI (Türkcan 2004). The pattern is not a new pattern and very much familiar with our pattern typology. The pattern scheme belongs to “Composite of diamond motif surrounded by triangles” (Pattern group 7.) as already seen on two seals of different levels from former 1960's material; Nos. 5 (Level II) and 12 (Level IV). However, 8864.X1 pattern design closely resembles the seal No.5 (from Level II seal of Mellaart material;- Mellaart 1964, fig. 40.9). In the centre is a diamond shaped pattern of which its centre pattern deeply carved. In the original pattern scheme, this central combination is enclosed by three sets of diagonal lines, each of which meets above the central motif. At either side are three roundels that are separated by encircling lines.

Figure 89: Clay stamp seal 8864.X1

5) 10922.X1 (TP Area) H 1.8; L 5.6; W 3.3; TH (Max. Thickness) 1.8. Clay; Non- Complete (Half %50 + ). 10 YR 4/1 Dark Grey. Medium fired. The seal seems to have been broken from the half. Besides, it also seems to have had a handle due to its clear traces of broken part. Its Sub-rectangular form type is seen in Level II where there are two examples (Nos.6 & 7) and there is one example (No.8) from Level III ( Türkcan 2004). the paste seems to be organic tempered and it is not fine quality paste. Many tiny pores that might be due to sandy fabric or tiny pebbles (or crystals?) can be recognized on the seal's surface. A dark core portion can be recognized on the broken part, so it seems to be well fired.		Figure 90: : Clay stamp seal 10922.X1
The design composition is very intriguing in regard to other seals' pattern compositions. Two different patterns have been designed in two square patterns that divide the seal face into two halves. The one pattern is composed of four concentric squares with a dot in the centre. The other one is composed of four bands of zigzag patterns (5 going up and down zigzag line that make two and a half pointed arches). It has been found in a thin layer of underlying a Late Roman Pit with a Neolithic potsherd. Its paste as well as its nature of abstract design tend to show it is much probably a Neolithic stamp.

The seal with the previous examples seems to recall Handleless grooved (Form group 8.) examples (Nos. 7 & 8; Türkcan 2004) have the same form and already seem to have been deliberately broken through the centre like 10922.x1. Its secondary deposition does not yet give a secure context to assess whether its been “discarded” or broken

6) 8865.X1 (4040 Area) : H3.2; L 4.45; W 2.3; TH (Max. Thickness) 1.9. Low fired. Complete but very much abraded. Its almost flat face side (not any pattern or any trace can be recognized) and coarse executed handle part seem to recall an unfinished or very much abraded stamp seal.