Unique bone figurine discovered in Catalhoyuk

A human-like figurine has been discovered in one of the oldest cities in the world: Catalhoyuk in Turkey. This is the first such object made of bone known from this place. The find is about 8,000 years old.

The anthropomorphic bone figurine [Credit: J. Quinlan]

The discovery was made in one of the largest proto-city centres of the first farmers and one of the most famous archaeological sites of the world: Catalhoyuk, located in the southern part of the Anatolian Plateau in central Turkey. Catalhoyuk was inhabited continuously for over a thousand years between 7100 and 6000 BC, i.e. in the Neolithic era. The figurine was found in 2016. The conclusions of its expert analyses are presented in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.

The most famous artefacts from this place are clay female figurines, until recently considered to be mother goddesses due to their massive posture and exposed breasts. Today, they are usually interpreted as depicting the elderly and objects related to ancestor worship. Now scientists have announced the discovery of a bone figurine that is anthropomorphic, i.e. has human features.

`This is undoubtedly an important find with a very simplified, but clear depiction of human features in the form of eyes. The figurine was made of bone, the proximal finger of a donkey`, said the discoverer of the object, Professor Kamilla Pawlowska, archaeozoologist and palaeontologist from the Department of Palaeoenvironmental Research of the Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.

The figurine is about 6 cm high. It has clearly visible incisions shaped to resemble eyes. A similar way of presenting human features is known from artefacts discovered in other sites in the Middle East from the same period, says Professor Kamilla Pawlowska. She adds that the majority of similar objects are known from a bit later period, the Chalcolithic (4300 - 3300 BC). They are also made of bones, mainly donkey and horse.

Until now, during the research in Catalhoyuk scientists discovered the phalanges of donkeys and horses. They are often well preserved. In individual cases, there were traces of processing on them, but never in a form reminiscent of human anatomical features, emphasizes Professor Kamilla Pawlowska.

The researcher says that there were not many donkeys in this prehistoric city, especially at the end of its functioning. Sheep and goats were more common since their meat, marrow and fat were an important element of the inhabitants` diet.

The figurine was discovered during the work of an international team under the supervision of Dr. Marek Z. Baranski from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk.

Professor Kamilla Pawlowska found it while analysing the flotation sample, i.e. wet screening. This procedure allows archaeologists to find bone remains and other small artefacts. It is known that the figurine was in one of the clay containers in a room where the food was stored. The container was made ca. 6500-6300 BC.

Author: Szymon Zdzieblowski | Source: PAP - Science in Poland [January 30, 2020]



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