Çatalhöyük terminology

Excavation database

Mound: This refers to the two main mounds on the site, the (largely)� Neolithic to the east and (largely) Chalcolithic to the west.

Area: Each area under excavation has a name for location purposes. At present we have the areas 4040, North, TP, South, Scrape, Bach, SP, PRETP, IST, DigHouse and Rec

Building: A building number is allocated where more than one internal space can be demonstrated to belong to one structure.

Space: A space number is allocated to internal and external areas as defined within the area of excavation. It can, for example, describe a room, a storage room, an external area, a street or an alley.

Feature: A feature number is addionally allocated to any group of related units that need to be described as a whole. For instance, a burial cut, associated fill(s) and�skeleton will be grouped together by a feature number, or the bricks, mortar and plaster of a wall may also be grouped. The Feature Sheet allows a whole burial or architectural element, as opposed to its individual units to be described (a standardised list of features is listed with the Feature Sheet instructions).

Unit Number: Every deposit or event defined is given a unique number. There is no value associated with any of the numbering systems used. Numbering of units, spaces and buildings etc. are terms of identification and should not be interpreted as having any hierarchical value. Unit numbers may be called 'context numbers' in other excavations.

Site Phasing

Settlement Phase: this is the temporal sequence of building/construction phases at the site. This is made up of

Hodder Level: based on stratigraphic chronology specific to Area of and where appropriate matched to Mellaart Levels.

Mellaart Level � 1960s phasing as Levels, and where possible matched to Hodder Level.

Occupation Phase: this is the history of internal use of the building or space. Recorded as

Space Phase � specific to space, which is generally an external area (middens, �yards�, quarrying etc.).

Building Phase � specific to building which can comprise more than one space.

Unit sheet

Year: The year of excavation.

Categories:

General Category: This describes the type of deposit being recorded. Category types have been defined to cover the range of deposits we are likely to encounter on the site. These categories may be expanded over time.

Generally everyone's description will differ. Excavators are asked to describe what they see, feel and come across whilst digging,�in terms of colour, texture, consistency, inclusions, distribution and orientation.

Layer: This should be used to describe a stratified deposit. Fills contained within cuts are also described as layers (there is no 'fill' category).
One type of layer that requires specific instructions is floor/surface. A unit number should be allocated to each metre square of the floor, often resulting in up to 50 unit numbers representing one floor. The initial recording for each surface unit should note surface treatment by following the prompt for basal boundary with additional descriptive terms, e.g. smooth, uneven, rough, pitted, pebbled, scorched, impressions of matting etc., depressions, waterlain lenses, salts. Groups of artefacts should be treated as Clusters and all artefacts associated with the surface should be treated as X Finds.
Arbitrary Layer:This category can cover part of a layer or a group of layers, i.e. several lenses. It can also represent a unit of investigation if the excavator is unsure of the local stratigraphy.
Cluster: This category describes a discrete group of artefacts within a unit, i.e. a concentration of pot, bone, lithics etc. or combination thereof.
Skeleton: Human skeletal remains are recorded on a Skeleton Sheet aided by specific prompts.
Cut: Although 'cuts' are�negative events i.e. the removal of material rather than the accumulation, they define a human activity which is crucial to understanding the nature and sequence of events we are attempting to unravel and interpret. Types of cuts you may encounter are pits, postholes, stakeholes, post or feature�retrieval pits, graves, foundations etc.

Interpretative Category: This should contain a more specific interpretation of the unit. For instance, a�cut in the general interpretation can now be identified as a burial cut, a foundation cut, a pit cut etc. and its probability circled as LOW - MEDIUM - HIGH (HIGH is more probable). If unsure, another interpretation can be entered in the alternative box with its probability. Further alternatives can be continued in the discussion area of the unit sheet.

Mid. X and Y. A grid system exists across the site originating from a SW co-ordinate. The grid is read in eastings and northings: X is therefore the measurement in metres east of the origin and Y the to the north. Each area under excavation has fixed grid points from which an approximate mid X and Y reading on the centre of the unit being described should be taken.

Dimensions: the maximum extent of the unit in plan (in metres and/or millimetres only) and the axis of the measurement e.g. 1.2m E-W x 0.4m N-S x 0.1m thick or 0.15m E-W x 80mm N-S x 0.2m deep. If there is extreme variation the minimum is also recorded.

Description: The Methodology section was introduced to the unit recording sheet in 1998 to aid a �user� of the unit sheet to understand the excavtor's approach to the archaeology and how and why they recognised a different event in the archaeological sequence. Basically it tries to follow their thought and �feel� processes whilst excavating.

X Finds: Most finds should be collected in material specific bags, with a label written in permanent ink pen on the pre-printed non-degradable labels�with the site name, year and area code, the unit number, brief artefact description, initials and date. The dry sieved artefacts should be bagged together with hand picked finds. However a 'small' find and all artefacts associated with floors or features must be XYZ recorded. These are given an X Find number. This number is unit specific, starting at number one e.g. 3128.X1, 3128.X2 etc. The X Find label has the site name, year and area code, the unit number, X Find number, brief artefact description and initials and date.

Discussion: This is where excavators write anything they can think about the unit, including their thoughts on the origins of the sediments and inclusions of the unit. Quesions excavators consider about the type of depositional event the unit may represent include the following:

Is there any evidence that the deposit was deliberately created in a single episode? This may apply to pit fills and make-up/levelling/infilling deposits or demolition debris, or to a fire event.
Is there any evidence that the deposit was accumulated over a period of time, as multiple episodes, such as within pits, midden areas, silt laminations? Are these the same types of episodes or are they different with compound layers of plaster and ash, sediment and ash or different types of ash.
The distribution and orientation also provides information on the nature of accumulation. Are there therefore, concentrations of artefacts or they evenly distributed throughout the deposit?
Is there evidence to indicate the deposit was wind or water-laid? This may take the form of fine lenses of silt or sand.

Excavators record how and why they reached certain conclusions and what evidence there is to support their analysis. They discuss what type of activity or activities the unit may represent, the reasons for their interpretation and the events that may have led to the presence of the unit. They give general thoughts on the unit�s location within the space, building or feature and note any contemporaneity with units under excavation in the vicinity, as well as any additional details on artefacts, including any clusters within the unit. Any change or variation in the deposit composition across the unit must also be noted. What post-depositional alterations are there? How have they affected the nature or preservation of the unit.

Priority tours

These take place every other workday for laboratory teams to visit all areas of excavation for updates on progress in work. The field staff discuss� their area, units excavated, those in progress; thoughts and current interpretation.�

Initially tours for the laboratory staff were designed to involve them in the excavation process whereby a multi-interpretational�flow of�ideas and interpretation would be introduced in the field; the analysis of the environmental and material�record�deposits would help interpretation in the field and or allow a more detailed field interpretation or highlight flaws in the field interpretation. However due to the large quantity of material to be analysed�it was clear that not all material�could�be studied fast enough�or in tandem. Priority tours were then introduced in 1997 whereby after discussion of units under excavation both the field team and lab teams would prioritise deposits for fast track analysis to answer specific questions raised through the excavation or analysis.

This gives them information on the material they analyse in the lab rather than looking at a bagful of disparate finds, this also allows feedback and integrated interpretation of the deposits under excavation, it might be that their interpretation of the material assemblage differs from the field interpretation of a particular unit and this�may lead to discussion and a reassessment of�interpretation. Questions arise�about�deposition events and function, some of which are best addressed by�site staff and others by the lab staff. There may be times when the excavator recognises a change but can't fathom the reasoning, it often then helps to have the material assemblage analysed.

This is a two way process intended to inform both lab and field teams and everyone is expected to take part.

One of the intentions of the priority tour is to chose units that are fast tracked through the system of flotation, sorting and material analysis in order to focus on specific questions to help interpretation. By prioritising chosen units all the material is analysed and then bought together in the field by discussion, usually by the next priority session and the discussion is then summarised on video.

Anything that appears unusual or difficult to interpret or of specific interest to the field team should be pointed out at these tours, lab staff may focus�on units of particular interest to them. If at the end of the tour too many priority units have been chosen then the number needs to be reduced by group discussion in order for the process to be effective.

Features and components types at Çatalhöyük

Below are a list of features and their components regularly encountered at Çatalhöyük . We are trying to standardise feature typologies which will ease database queries and you should therefore try to stick to those listed below. There is however, no hard and fast rule and other types of features may be encountered. If a feature you are excavating does not fall into one of the categories below, discuss with your area supervisor, and/or the computer officer, in order for a new category to be entered on to the database. This then for example, enables all platforms to be queried on the database and none�missed because they have been categorised as a bed, a couch or foundation etc. There will be occasions when a further level of interpretation is needed for some features, but this should be described in the discussion section of the feature sheet. Examples�of feature types and sub feature types (the further level of interpretation) are listed below:

FEATURE TYPE	SUB-FEATURE TYPE	NOTES

wall	partition wall internal wall curtain wall	Unit numbers are allocated to the different components of the wall e.g. brick, mortar and plaster. If different brick types are encountered these should be allocated further units. Once all samples are taken from the brick and mortar, a general number is given to the remaining bricks and mortar and the whole excavated and dry sieved together. The bricks, mortar and combined number, will appear as equal on the matrix box. On the feature sheet you should describe the location of the wall in terms of building and space, its alignment, relationship to other walls e.g. bonded/abutting/abutted, also the dimensions of the wall and the dimensions of the brick and mortar, also rebuilds or modifications, associations to all other relevant features, e.g. abutted by platform, cut by post scar, contains wall relief or painting, which face of the wall these features occur on and any anomalies you encountered whilst excavating, e.g. the wall sloped gradually from north to south, or in areas the mortar was used as a levelling deposit. Because the walls at Çatalhöyük are irregular on the vertical plane it is important to record this too, therefore you should not only plan and level the top course of the wall but also every 2 - 3 courses down, these plans can then be used to build up a 3-D image of all the irregularities and overhangs. All walls must be drawn in elevation; draw on the extent of the plaster and then draw again once the plaster has been removed. The plaster is allocated a unit number and excavated carefully looking for any signs of paint. Also note the number of visible plaster applications and basal mud rendering. Remember to take �plaster count� samples as well as the routine archive and flotation.

wall blocking		Record the blocking material in the same way as a wall and describe the resulting void. You may wish to allocate a different feature number to the crawlhole once the blocking has been excavated, but only you can decide if this makes things easier for you. Record the location and interpretation for the blocking: was it a pre-construction evevnt for the next phase and therefore infilled for stability for the overlying wall, or was it a blocking to close off a space no longer used (e.g. Space 151), or to close off access between two spaces which carried on in use (see pre-blocking floors and post blocking floors e.g. spaces 107 and 108)

crawlhole	opening doorway	This will only ever occur in a wall, and it should be recorded using a cut unit sheet. Record which wall the crawlhole is in, the spaces it links, any notable characteristics and how it affects the use of the spaces.

niche		Record in the same way as a crawlhole, where it occurs, which wall face, all fills within, any internal treatment e.g. plaster, rough or smooth faces, residues etc. and any indication of use, and its relationship to the use of the building.

pillar		These are similar to �engaged pilasters� with a brick or pis� core, rendered with a mud plaster base and finished with plaster. There may be several mud and plaster renderings which can be excavated in groups. Record location and dimensions, which wall face�they occur on, distance between similar features, and also record any modifications and/or mouldings.

post		On this site these represent a wooden posts used for roof support. Posts have not yet been found in situ, and are presumed to have been removed for re-use in the next building. These are�usually identified by a scar in the wall plaster with an associated posthole or post-retrieval posthole. Posts however will probably survive in a burnt building. The different elements to this feature therefore include the posthole (fill[s] and cut),�the scar and the plaster rendering. Record location and dimensions, which wall facethey occur on, distance between similar features, and also record any modifications and/or mouldings.

ladder emplacement		Again these have not been found in situ but are�represented by a scar in the wall plaster. To record use the prompts to describe a cut, indicate the location in relation to the wall and on which face, the length, any association to other features, e.g. above features, floor treatment around the base of the scar, the angle, how it�s location would have affected the spatial organisation and use of the building.

wall feature	moulding wall relief bucrannia painting	These features appear to consist of multiple pis� or brick cores with plaster and mud applications. You will have to decide how best to allocate units to the individual components, remembering that the photographic image can enhance the written and drawn record. Describe as fully as possible, record location and dimensions, on which wall face they occur and their relationship to similar features, e.g. are they symmetrically located. It may not always be possible to excavate these features as they may be lifted by the conservators but this needs to be recorded too. If you are unlucky enough to find many superimposed paintings, allocate a unit number to each painting as a plaster category and describe the image. Paintings can either be grouped with the wall feature or if there are several you may which to allocate a feature number to the series. Remember to inform the relevant laboratory of conservation team(s) at the earliest possible moment.

roof	beam-slot	It is unusual to find collapsed roof deposits, but where we have it is clear that these consist of multiple lenses all of which should be brought together as a feature. This enables analysts to study all these deposits as a group as well as individually. Other roof related features may be represented by roof beam-slots at the top of walls, as it is quite possible that occasional buildings were completely backfilled, in which case excavate the beam-slot as you would a cut with fills. Record location, dimensions and distance between similar features. If there are many beam-slots you may decide to allocate a feature number to all and discuss them as a group.

platform		These are shallow plastered features located against walls and can vary in number and size, sometimes extending across most of a floor space, where they abut other platforms or features. They tend to be heavily remodelled by extensions and re-plastering and can be replastered at the same time as floors, so it is important to find this relationship. Platforms are normally associated with burials and it is important to cross reference all burials. Platforms can also be modelled over earlier interior walls (e.g. *sp 150 and sp 117*) which creates a pre existing raised area, or in some cases a make-up layer is used to form the base.

bench		Similar to platforms but narrower and higher and probably constructed with a brick core with rendering of mud and plaster. Again these tend to be constructed along wall faces. Record location, dimensions and relationship to wall faces.

bin		These are narrow walledfeatures with a�plastered pis� core, often truncated leaving only the�base but with scars sometimes traced in the wall plaster, indicating� original height. They are usually found in corners of rooms but also as a conglomerate of individually constructed bins (e.g. space CRAIG), it is therefore�important to record the construction sequence where possible. These can also be truncated and remodelled as basins which isn�t always apparent. Record location, dimensions and relationship to walls.

basin		These have a similar construction to bins and it is not always possible to distinguish between a bin and a basin. They are often composed of solid plaster and are usually shallow with a raised or lipped rim. Again these are often remodelled and extended or truncated. Record different phases and location, dimensions and relationships with any other features.

fire installation	oven hearth fire spot	The types of fire installations encountered at the site so far are domed superstructures, shallow rimmed structures and fire spots in �external� areas. There are many phases of oven within the lifespan of a building. A pattern we are also finding is that often the very last oven is preserved with its domed roof intact and the oven body carefully infilled prior to the infilling of the building, this however, is not rule. Earlier ovens are truncated or flattened, sometimes constructed over by another oven or sealed by floors, and the replacement oven located elsewhere. Ovens are usually constructed against a wall and comprise several phases of replastering and use. Sometime they are remodelled into other features. The walls are usually constructed of clay with several applications together with renderings of mud plaster. Sometimes they are set in a scoop type cut and may have a basal packing deposit and several make-up/packing layers for the main oven floor. The internal walls may have several mud plaster applications. The surrounding associated deposits consist of �rakeout� material, compacted by wear into surfaces but which are not usually plastered. The �dirty� oven area and �rakeout� is often delineated from the �clean� plastered floor areas by a �physical� barrier in the form of a raised ridge. It is important to phase the oven and remodelling sequences with the srrounding floor deposits. Hearths can be difficult to distinguish from truncated ovens as these are similarly constructed. A fire is usually identified by in situ ashy deposits and associated scorching, and these can be identified in external areas and in buildings. Always notify the archaeobotany team once a fire installation is defined. Record different phases and location, dimensions and relationship with any other features.

pit		It is not always necessary to allocate a feature number to a pit, particularly in the event of a single fill. In this case the �cut� unit number draws the unit of the pit together. However, in cases of multi depositional filled cuts you may decide to allocate a feature number to draw the whole pit together, particularly when the fills represent different uses and/or phases which require further discussion as a whole.

cache/hoard		This is similar to pits and clusters but we distinguish a cache as a group of related artefacts deliberately buried together which may be interpreted as a store of material. By allocating a feature number you are simply drawing attention to it which allows easier query on the database. As soon as a cache is identified it is advisable to set up a couple of target nails (as you do for a human burial) so that photographic records can be made at each stage of lifting. If possible set up a tripod and maintain a stable camera position until the last artefact has been lifted. If possible plan each artefact at a scale of 1:1. Each fragment or artefact is allocated an X Find number. The reason for the above is to detect whether the artefacts were in a container when placed in the ground, which may be tested by the position of the artefacts. If a�cache/hoard is within a cut then you need to allocate a fill, cluster and cut unit. If at the interface of�floors or deposits then a cluster unit only, if within a deposit (e.g. infill) it may indicate that the cache was deposited in a container since disintegrated in which case you should also allocate a fill, cluster and cut unit so that the �shape� of the artefacts can be recorded which may define the shape of the container.

floor		Because we excavate floors on a grid, and each gridded area is allocated a unit number, a floor often ends up with many unit numbers which are equal to each other on the matrix. It may be convenient to draw all these individual numbers together under a feature number, which also allows you to record or summarise your impressions of�wear and use of the floor, as indicated by the surface treatment. This also saves the data user having to plough through all the unit sheets for a description of the surface treatment over different areas of the building. On the feature sheet you should also cross reference�phases and associated features.