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The microstratigraphy of middens: capturing daily routine in rubbish at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Lisa-Marie Shillito ,
Wendy Matthews ,
Matthew J. Almond  and
Ian D. Bull
Lisa-Marie Shillito
Affiliation:
BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK (Email: [email protected])
Wendy Matthews
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
Matthew J. Almond
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, UK
Ian D. Bull
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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Extract

Microstratigraphy — the sequencing of detailed biological signals on site — is an important new approach being developed in the Çatalhöyük project. Here the authors show how microscopic recording of the strata and content of widespread middens on the tell are revealing daily activities and the selective employment of plants in houses and as fuel. Here we continue to witness a major advance in the practice of archaeological investigation.

Keywords

ÇatalhöyükNeolithicChalcolithicmicrostratigraphymicromorphologyphytolithsmiddens
Type
Method
Information
Antiquity , Volume 85 , Issue 329 , September 2011 , pp. 1024 - 1038
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2011

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