Reconstruction drawing of a typical house of Çatalhöyük

To this date, Çatalhöyük is the oldest and largest Neolithic Age city found. Approximately 8000 years old, this central Anatolian settlement point is situated to the east of Carsamba River, which is fed from Lake Beysehir, and near the town of Cumra.

Excavations at the site were first carried out in the 1960s, by James Mellaart. Mellaart described a closely packed urban settlement, lacking streets. The residences were accessed through the roof, into main rooms, each about 20x13 ft (6x4 m). The floors of the rooms were lime-plastered, and covered with reed mats. The walls of the main rooms were painted with red-colored panels, touched up over time. Built-in benches and platforms lined the walls; small niches and ovens were carved into them. Elaborate wall paintings, and displays of objects including decorated animal skulls were found in these rooms.
(Location: near Konya)

Uploaded by slavica on 5/4/2009, viewed 16827 times.