Archaeometrical Investigations At METU
Ay Melek Özer et alThe archaeometry group of the Middle East Technical University (METU) has carried out a number of studies, summarised below.
Groundstone Analysis
Thirtyfour groundstones obtained from excavation site and fifteen rock samples obtained from the Konya plain and its surroundings have been analyzed by optical microscopy. Based on this study, the groundstones were characterized in three groups namely, volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic.
The volcanic and sedimentary groundstones were collected from Konya plain and its surrounding hills and from the sediments of Çarşamba river whereas, the source of metamorphic groundstones was not identified yet.
Phosphate Analysis
One hundred sediment samples were analysed for phosphate content. Human activity areas (inhabited places, rubbish heaps, cellars, stores, graveyards and so on) can be differentiated. Since teeth, bones, all types of food residues and faeces in sediments have generally large amount of phosphate, this analysis should be expected to give information about the type of settlements. Higher phosphate levels may indicate inhabited places, wheras the highest amount of phosphate may indicate faeces and graves. Total phosphate content of sediments was found in the range 0.04 0.69 % by weight (average being 0.17%). Values between 0.04 0.15% do not indicate activity areas, whereas values higher than 0.15% should be related with activity areas.
Plant Residues
This research group is investigating (1) molecular DNA of charred wheat seeds, (2) plant remains from the site.
(1). Archaeological wheat samples are the direct source to study wheat species cultivated firstly about 10 000 years ago in Near East. Molecular methods were developed recently to study carbonized plant seeds thousands of years old. In the present study, carbonized biology techniques provide possibility to amplify and investigate the DNA from wheat seeds from Çatalhöyük which are dated to Neolithic age have been genetically studied and it was understood that quite enough DNA is isolated to be studied. The results could provide valuable new information on domestication of wheat, as well as genetic changes in wheat through the ages in Anatolia.
(2). The second group of study is concentrated on the collection and recording of both environmental and cultural information of modern wild taxa including fruits, nuts, tubers as well as other roots and rhizomes from forests, steppe and wetlands. These samples have been compared to the archaeological plant remains from the site. The results of the comparison and the information supplied by villagers showed that the use of the plants such as celtis, pistacia and crataegus, their distribution and their habitats are similar to those of Neolithic plants. Since the study also includes the wild plant foods found at Neolithic sites in Central Anatolia, the comparison of wild nuts, fruits and tubers found on Çatalhöyük and Can Hasan I-III and Pınarbaşı sites will be carried out.
Dating
Dating of sediments from the site using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) technique has been started. Mineral composition of the samples have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Uranium and thorium contents have been determined by low level alpha counting technique while potassium content has been determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method. The thermoluminescence dosimeters were placed in the site and collected 8 months later. Thus annual and paleodoses have been calculated. Calculations of the ages are in progress.
Ethnoarchaeological Studies
Four inhabited and four deserted houses in the village Küçükköy near Çatalhöyük were visited to inspect their micromorphology and ethnoarchaeology. One house in each village such as Binbirkilise and Hamidiye in a radius of 30 km from Çatalhöyük was also visited to investigate housing and consequences of ecological change for future work.
This study will give the idea about the building materials, building techniques, types of plasters and their applications and the division of labour in the family and domestic spatial organisation at Çatalhöyük.