CATAL HUYUK …MYSTERIES OF THE PAST

Mrs. Saitta Grade 8 Social Studies

OBJECTIVES: SWBAT

Explain where Catal Huyuk is located. Describe three mysteries that surround

Catal Huyuk. Hypothesize why the people of Catal

Huyuk lived the way they did. Analyze - why is Catal Huyuk a

Neolithic village and not a civilization?

LOCATION

Catal Huyuk – located country of Turkey in the continent of Asia.

one of the oldest Neolithic communities.

existed somewhere between 6700 B.C. and the latest to about 5650 B.C.

YOU BE THE ARCHAEOLOGIST!

What do archaeologists do? Photograph Dig Think Reason Hypothesize – what happened here?

(based on evidence) While viewing, assume the role of

an archaeologist

CATAL HUYUK

Catal means “fork” and Huyuk means “mound”

Uncovered in 1961- British archaeologist James Mellaart

What is unusual about these homes?

housed @ 7,000—10,000 residents.

Honey-comb village with no ground level doors or windows!

LIFE IN CATAL HUYUK

Homes were build with no doors or windows.

People moved around from place to place from the roof tops.

The used a ladder to descend into their homes.

What would be a plausible explanation for entering homes this way?

EXCAVATION SITE IN TURKEY

While excavating: archaeologists have found:Bones, under what appear to be the beds, in the homes of the residents of Catal Huyuk..

Solve the Mysteries????

EARTH MOTHER?

Figurine found at Catal Huyuk.

After carefully examining the artifact….

What do you see?

What beliefs might the people have had?

What do you think this figure meant or represented to the people of Catal Huyuk?

BALLS!

BALLS, BALLS AND MORE BALLS

Clay Balls of many sizes, found in large quantities all over the excavation sites.

Think like an archaeologist, what might they be used for?

Click icon to add picture

MURALS ON THE WALLS

Map of ancient Catal Huyuk…..What do you see in this mural? What are some of the reasons people paint murals? Is this a primary source? If so, why?

DOES THIS ARTIST’S FACSIMILE OF CATAL HUYUK HELP YOU TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS DRAWN IN THE MURAL?

SOME FACTS…. farmed and hunted

wild bulls, deer, horses, pigs and gathered wild plants, grains, mushrooms, berries. extensive trade

items from Syria and the Mediterranean Obsidian –from volcano - wealth

Notice the mural!

http://www.smm.org/catal/top.php?visited=TRUE

CATAL HUYUK

-++

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:ANSWER IN NOTEBOOK

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Where was Catal Huyuk located? What does name Catal Huyuk mean? When did it exist? (dates) How many people lived there at any

one time? Name three mysteries about life in

Catal Huyuk and give your theory as to why each might have occurred.