The metallic finds from Çatalhöyük: a review and preliminary new work

Abstract

The metallic artifacts from Çatalhöyük are of particular importance as they constitute some of the earliest examples known. Metal inds have been recovered from as early as Level IX (South K), spanning to Level II, with VII and VI (South M-O) being the most productive (Mellaart 1964, 111). Radiocarbon dating of the archaeological sequence at Çatal-höyük suggests an occupation phase from c.7400–6200 cal BC, which was further reined by a programme of AMS ra-diocarbon dating to the range c.7400–5600 BC (Bronk Ram-sey et al. 2009; Cessford 2001; 2005c; Mellaart 1964). The concentration of metallic inds from Levels South M-O has been dated to c.6600–6450 BC. Despite receiving a great deal of attention, very little research has been conducted on these inds (Neuninger et al. 1964; Sperl 1990). Starting a new approach, three Neolithic copper-based artifacts from recent excavations were selected for further investigation. Before introducing the study of these artifacts, a brief overview will be presented of evidence for early metallurgy in Anatolia in order to contextualize the inds from Çatalhöyük. The inds from Mellaart's excavations will be reviewed before introducing those resulting from recent excavations. Finally, the preliminary investigation into the three copper-based artifacts will be presented with a discussion of the results.

Full text

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The metallic artifacts from Çatalhöyük are of particular im-
portance as they constitute some of the earliest examples
         
  

-
    c.
 -
c.-
sey et al. 
  
c.

et al.
      
       

-
     
       
 -


the results.

Çatalhöyük
-

-
et al.
   
et al. 
-



-

     


The earliest evidence for metal use

et al.

   
-
         
         
Çemi

-
          
et al.


 
     



      
        
     -
         -
-



         

    



         
       

Chapter 17



In: I. Hodder (ed) 2013: Substantive Technologies at Catalhöyük

Volume 9: Substantive Technologies at Çatalhöyük: Reports from the 2000–2008 Seasons


     

et al. 
       



Earliest evidence for extractive metallurgy
-


     -
-
et al.
   
-



      th millennium
-

      Çatalhöyük are
       
  
 et al.
-

et al. 

et al.

-

     
-


et al.
Copper sources
       


      

-
 -


 
Sample Analysis Cu As Ag Bi Total
all in wt%
7575.x17-S2
198.9 0.028 0.040 bdl 99.0
296.8 0.028 bdl 0.022 96.9
397.2 0.025 0.057 0.020 97.4
497.4 0.015 0.047 bdl 97.5
598.5 0.023 0.064 bdl 98.6
697.3 bdl 0.028 0.006 97.3
798.4 bdl 0.023 bdl 98.5
898.2 0.077 0.017 0.024 98.3
997.4 0.087 0.076 bdl 97.5
10 98.1 0.021 0.021 bdl 98.1
Average 97.8 0.030 0.037 0.007 97.9
13079.x3-S1
195.9 0.004 bdl bdl 95.9
299.1 bdl 0.003 bdl 99.2
396.8 bdl 0.017 0.033 96.9
496.2 0.012 0.003 0.040 96.2
596.1 bdl 0.010 0.020 96.2
696.7 0.092 0.014 bdl 96.8
794.9 0.025 0.044 bdl 95.0
895.7 bdl bdl bdl 95.7
996.6 bdl bdl bdl 96.6
10 97.2 bdl bdl bdl 97.3
Average 96.5 0.013 0.009 0.009 96.6
13079.x3-S2
196.6 0.058 bdl 0.005 96.7
297.1 bdl 0.021 bdl 97.1
396.1 0.049 bdl bdl 96.2
497.6 bdl 0.037 0.069 97.7
595.1 0.066 bdl bdl 95.2
697.3 0.001 0.007 0.003 97.3
799.4 bdl 0.001 0.037 99.5
896.1 0.033 bdl 0.032 96.2
995.9 bdl bdl 0.046 95.9
10 95.0 0.037 0.021 bdl 95.0
Average 96.6 0.024 0.009 0.019 96.7

Table 17.1. Raw EPMA-WDS data for each spot analysis
conducted on the metal phase for each sample.


Table 17.2. Individual LA-ICPMS
analyses of samples 7575.x17 and
13079.x3. All values are expressed
as elements in µg/g. Signals unex-
pectedly high in iron and other ele-
ments are thought to include cor-
rosion material (asterisked). Co,
Ni, Pt and Bi were analysed and
routinely found only at levels of
less than 1 µg/g, with the exception
of two individual measurements
of 1.4 µg/g Pt in sample 7575.x17
(analysis d2 and e2).
Sample Analysis Fe Zn As Se Ag Sn Sb Te Pb
all in μg/g
7575-X17-S2
a* 35 <5 750 12.6 11 <1 1.5 4.2 3.9
b* 180 7 990 9.9 <1 <1 1.6 7.3 10.4
c* 77 6 1100 12.2 <1 <1 1.7 8.2 6.3
d1 <5 <5 15 7.0 390 <1 1.2 5.4 <1
d2 <5 <5 17 10.0 450 <1 1.2 6.5 <1
e1 <5 <5 <1 7.8 340 <1 1.0 8.8 <1
e2 <5 <5 <1 <5 380 <1 <1 11.6 <1
f <5 <5 1 8.7 330 <1 1.1 9.0 <1
g <5 <5 2.9 11.0 300 <1 1.0 8.4 <1
h <5 <5 10 9.3 300 <1 1.5 10.5 <1
i <5 <5 3.1 8.1 320 <1 1.1 3.9 <1
j <5 <5 12 8.8 380 <1 1.2 5.4 <1
k1 <5 <5 <1 9.0 265 16 1.2 <5 <1
k2 <5 <5 3.9 11.4 2500 37 1.8 11.6 <1
l <5 <5 5.3 7.4 320 1.4 1.5 8.3 <1
m <5 <5 120 8.5 420 11 1.5 8.9 <1
n <5 <5 25 8.2 530 1.3 1.4 5.2 <1
o <5 <5 1 8.7 330 <1 1.1 9.0 <1
p <5 <5 2.9 11.0 300 <1 1.0 8.4 <1
-1 <5 <5 10 9.3 300 <1 1.5 10.5 <1
-2 <5 <5 3.1 8.1 320 <1 1.1 <5 <1
-3 <5 <5 12 8.8 380 <1 1.2 5.4 <1
-4 <5 <5 <1 9.0 265 16 1.2 <5 <1
-5 <5 <5 3.9 11.4 2500 37 1.8 11.6 <1
-6 <5 <5 5.3 7.4 310 1.4 1.5 8.3 <1
Median <5 <5 5.3 8.8 330 <1 1.2 8.4 <1
Sample Analysis Fe Zn As Se Ag Sn Sb Te Pb
all in μg/g
13079-X3-S1
a <5 <5 200 8.2 65 <1 1.1 6.8 <1
b <5 <5 120 10.1 65 <1 1.0 7.4 <1
c <5 <5 64 7.3 65 <1 <1 5.6 <1
d <5 <5 130 4.9 79 1.1 1.1 11.1 <1
e <5 <5 87 12.7 61 <1 1.2 9.7 <1
f <5 <5 120 6.9 74 <1 1.2 6.8 <1
g <5 <5 29 8.5 62 <1 <1 6.4 <1
h <5 <5 46 8.7 69 <1 1.1 7.2 <1
i <5 <5 92 10.7 76 <1 1.7 9.2 <1
Median <5 <5 92 8.5 65 <1 1.1 7.2 <1
13079-X3-S2
a <5 <5 210 7.9 81 <1 1.1 5.4 <1
b <5 <5 200 8.8 83 <1 1.1 5.9 <1
c <5 <5 210 8.5 75 <1 <1 5.8 <1
d <5 <5 16 8.0 90 2.6 1.3 6.2 <1
e <5 <5 35 10.6 110 13 <1 5.1 <1
f <5 <5 90 11.2 88 2.1 1.1 7.0 <1
g <5 <5 54 8.0 74 <1 1.3 6.9 <1
h <5 <5 92 10.7 76 <1 1.7 9.2 <1
i <5 <5 165 10.6 72 <1 1.3 6.2 <1
Median <5 <5 92 8.8 81 <1 1.3 6.2 <1

Volume 9: Substantive Technologies at Çatalhöyük: Reports from the 2000–2008 Seasons



    
ÇorumÇorum
Çorum 
-




        
-

      
  
          



     
      


       
-

   
-
      

-
 
 

          
   

          


  



 

        
 

-



     


      

-
       
     
 
      

    


-
-

  
        
-
     
    

    
Figure 17.1. Illustrations, showing the location of the sub-
samples obtained, with accompanying photographs of the

16248.x1 (for color version see CD).

Chapter 17: The Metallic Finds

Sample Image Location Cu OCl Ag S Si Total Formula
all in atom % (approx.)
7575.x17-S1 1
A (n=5) 50 50 99 CuCl
B (n=5) 69 29 1.5 0.5 97 Cu2O
C (n=5) 69 30 0.6 96 Cu2O
7575.x17-S2
2
A (n=3) 100 99 Cu
B (n=5) 69 31 97 Cu2O
C (n=5) 51 49 97 CuCl
D (n=5) 68 31 1.0 97 Cu2O
3
A (n=3) 69 31 98 Cu2O
B (n=3) 69 31 98 Cu2O
C (n=3) 50 50 99 CuCl
D (n=3) 100 99 Cu
E i 81 0.6 18.7 98 Cu-Ag
E ii 48 18.7 33 86 Cu-Ag-Cl
E iii 67 28 4.9 89 Cu-Ag-Cl
4 A 88 12.5 98 Cu-sulphide?
13079.x3-S1
5
A (n=5) 71 29 97 Cu2O
B (n=5) 50 0.7 50 96 CuCl
C (n=5) 71 28 1.4 95 Cu2O
D (n=3) 59 41 90 Cu-chloride?
6
A (n=3) 51 49 94 CuCl
B (n=3) 71 29 0.4 97 Cu2O
C (n=3) 100 99 Cu
13079.x3-S2
7A (n=5) 50 50 96 CuCl
B (n=5) 70 29 0.8 94 Cu2O
8
A (n=2) 50 50 97 CuCl
B (n=2) 68 31 0.8 95 Cu2O
C (n=3) 100 98 Cu
16248.x1-S2 9
A (n=2) 68 31 0.3 99 Cu2O
B (n=2) 21 53 0.3 25 89 CuSiO2
C (n=2) 36 47 17.6 93 Cu-oxy-chloride
D (n=2) 38 62 0.8 86 Cu-carbonate?

Table 17.3. Average EPMA-EDS data obtained from multiple area analyses from separate
phases (n=number of analyses).

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