Neolithic statuette at Çatalhöyük, Turkey

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Nine thousand years ago in Turkey, a thriving settlement called Çatalhöyük stood out as one of the largest communities of its time, boasting around 5,000 residents. The densely packed mud brick houses were adorned with vibrant paintings and symbolic decorations, making it a remarkable example of neolithic architecture. Archaeologists excavating at Çatalhöyük have made a groundbreaking discovery - a rare, intact statuette of a woman buried carefully with a valuable piece of obsidian. This figurine, nearly seven inches long, is one of the largest and most well-preserved examples found to date. Made from marble, it lay undisturbed beneath the floor of a neolithic home for 8,000 years before being unearthed this summer. The discovery has sparked renewed interest in the significance of female figurines like this one. In the mid-twentieth century, archaeologists like James Mellaart believed that these curvaceous statuettes represented fertility goddesses, an idea that gained popularity in New Age culture. However, recent evidence from Çatalhöyük and contemporaneous sites has cast doubt on this interpretation. Stanford archaeologist Lynn Meskell points out that little material evidence suggests that these figurines were the objects of worship. In fact, nearly all such figurines have been found in garbage piles, as if they were created for a specific purpose - whether spiritual or playful - and then discarded. They are rarely built with bases, which means they could never have been erected for display. Instead, they might have been passed from hand-to-hand or worn as ornaments. In contrast, statues and representations of animals at Çatalhöyük receive specialized treatment. Bull horns are mounted on walls and next to doors, while some animal bones are embedded inside the plaster walls. Paintings of leopards, bulls, and other animals are given what appears to be special symbolic significance in homes. If any figurines would be candidates for worship, it would likely be these animal representations rather than the plump women. The discovery at Çatalhöyük highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of ancient cultures and their practices. By examining the material evidence, archaeologists can gain a deeper insight into the lives and beliefs of our ancestors.