The Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic Imagery in South-Central Anatolia

This book provides a synthesis of Late Neolithic / Early Chalcolithic imagery from South-Central Anatolia, encompassing both Central Anatolia and the Lake District. It explores the nature of transformations and continuities in imagery during the period between 6500-5500 BC. The author examines three main categories of artifacts - pottery, figurines and stamp seals - to trace the presence and transformation of particular images in time. The Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük (7100- 5950 BC) in Central Anatolia is renowned for its elaborate art found inside the houses. A wide variety of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometric motifs and themes were reproduced on wall paintings, reliefs and mobile objects. The author addresses the question of what happened with the repertoire of motifs in the upper levels of Çatalhöyük and after its abandonment, and what circumstances might have been related to this transformation. To reassess the imagery, data was collected from Late Neolithic levels at Çatalhöyük investigated by the Polish team since 2001, as well as from four intensively excavated sites from the Lakes region: Hacilar, Kuruçay, Höyücek and Bademagaci. The author applies the semiotic perspective of American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, which they argue is a useful framework for discussing the imagery and its transformation over time. The analytical model used is the so-called replication, which allows grasping the diachronic changes. It has never been applied to studies on Neolithic / Chalcolithic imagery.