First Impressions of the Çatal Hüyük Plant Husbandry

Extract

The deposits of carbonized grain and seeds excavated at Çatal Hüyük are the largest and best preserved finds of their kind ever recovered from so early periods in the Old World. Indeed the volume is so great that it is a matter of years just to examine the plant remains and put names to the many species. The development of the proper attitude of mind in the examiner is by necessity a slow process when he is faced with so many completely novel cultural circumstances that there is no valid background of reference. However, five months' ecological and floristic studies on the spot have cleared up so many problems that a satisfactory result may be anticipated in due course. The generosity of the Danish Carlsberg Foundation and James Mellaart made this long and extremely useful excursion possible.