Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Lives and Lifestyles of an Early Farming Society in Transition

Clark Spencer Larsen; Simon W. Hillson; Başak Boz; Marin A. Pilloud; Joshua W. Sadvari; Sabrina C. Agarwal; Bonnie Glencross; Patrick Beauchesne; Jessica A. Pearson; Christopher B. Ruff; Evan M. Garofalo; Lori D. Hager; Scott D. Haddow; Christopher J. Knüsel

doi:10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6

Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Lives and Lifestyles of an Early Farming Society in Transition

Clark Spencer Larsen, Simon W. Hillson, Başak Boz, Marin A. Pilloud, Joshua W. Sadvari, Sabrina C. Agarwal, Bonnie Glencross, Patrick Beauchesne, Jessica A. Pearson, Christopher B. Ruff, Evan M. Garofalo, Lori D. Hager, Scott D. Haddow, Christopher J. Knüsel

Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The bioarchaeological record of human remains viewed in the context of ecology, subsistence, and living circumstances provides a fundamental source for documenting and interpreting the impact of plant and animal domestication in the late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene. For Western Asia, Çatalhöyük (7100–5950 cal BC) in central Anatolia, presents a comprehensive and contextualized setting for interpreting living circumstances in this highly dynamic period of human history. This article provides an overview of the bioarchaeology of Çatalhöyük in order to characterize patterns of life conditions at the community level, addressing the question, What were the implications of domestication and agricultural intensification, increasing sedentism, and population growth for health and lifestyle in this early farming community? This study employs demography, biogeochemistry, biodistance analysis, biomechanics, growth and development, and paleopathology in order to identify and interpret spatial and temporal patterns of health and lifestyle under circumstances of rapid population growth and aggregation and changing patterns of acquiring food and other resources. The record suggests that the rapid growth in population size was fueled by increased fertility and birthrate. Although the household was likely the focus of economic activity, our analysis suggests that individuals interred in houses were not necessarily biologically related. Predictably, the community employed resource extraction practices involving increased mobility. Although oral and skeletal indicators suggest some evidence of compromised health (e.g. elevated subadult infection, dental caries), growth and development of juveniles and adult body size and stature indicate adjustments to local circumstances.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of World Prehistory
Volume	28
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	27-68
Number of pages	42
ISSN	0892-7537
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2015

Keywords

Biodistance
Biomechanics
Domestication
Growth
Paleodemography
Paleopathology
Stable isotopes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6

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Larsen, C. S., Hillson, S. W., Boz, B., Pilloud, M. A., Sadvari, J. W., Agarwal, S. C., Glencross, B., Beauchesne, P., Pearson, J. A., Ruff, C. B., Garofalo, E. M., Hager, L. D., Haddow, S. D., & Knüsel, C. J. (2015). Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Lives and Lifestyles of an Early Farming Society in Transition. Journal of World Prehistory, 28(1), 27-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6

Larsen, CS, Hillson, SW, Boz, B, Pilloud, MA, Sadvari, JW, Agarwal, SC, Glencross, B, Beauchesne, P, Pearson, JA, Ruff, CB, Garofalo, EM, Hager, LD, Haddow, SD & Knüsel, CJ 2015, 'Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Lives and Lifestyles of an Early Farming Society in Transition', Journal of World Prehistory, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 27-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6

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abstract = "The bioarchaeological record of human remains viewed in the context of ecology, subsistence, and living circumstances provides a fundamental source for documenting and interpreting the impact of plant and animal domestication in the late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene. For Western Asia, {\c C}atalh{\"o}y{\"u}k (7100–5950 cal BC) in central Anatolia, presents a comprehensive and contextualized setting for interpreting living circumstances in this highly dynamic period of human history. This article provides an overview of the bioarchaeology of {\c C}atalh{\"o}y{\"u}k in order to characterize patterns of life conditions at the community level, addressing the question, What were the implications of domestication and agricultural intensification, increasing sedentism, and population growth for health and lifestyle in this early farming community? This study employs demography, biogeochemistry, biodistance analysis, biomechanics, growth and development, and paleopathology in order to identify and interpret spatial and temporal patterns of health and lifestyle under circumstances of rapid population growth and aggregation and changing patterns of acquiring food and other resources. The record suggests that the rapid growth in population size was fueled by increased fertility and birthrate. Although the household was likely the focus of economic activity, our analysis suggests that individuals interred in houses were not necessarily biologically related. Predictably, the community employed resource extraction practices involving increased mobility. Although oral and skeletal indicators suggest some evidence of compromised health (e.g. elevated subadult infection, dental caries), growth and development of juveniles and adult body size and stature indicate adjustments to local circumstances.",

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author = "Larsen, {Clark Spencer} and Hillson, {Simon W.} and Ba{\c s}ak Boz and Pilloud, {Marin A.} and Sadvari, {Joshua W.} and Agarwal, {Sabrina C.} and Bonnie Glencross and Patrick Beauchesne and Pearson, {Jessica A.} and Ruff, {Christopher B.} and Garofalo, {Evan M.} and Hager, {Lori D.} and Haddow, {Scott D.} and Kn{\"u}sel, {Christopher J.}",

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AU - Larsen, Clark Spencer

AU - Hillson, Simon W.

AU - Boz, Başak

AU - Pilloud, Marin A.

AU - Sadvari, Joshua W.

AU - Agarwal, Sabrina C.

AU - Glencross, Bonnie

AU - Beauchesne, Patrick

AU - Pearson, Jessica A.

AU - Ruff, Christopher B.

AU - Garofalo, Evan M.

AU - Hager, Lori D.

AU - Haddow, Scott D.

AU - Knüsel, Christopher J.

PY - 2015/3/1

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N2 - The bioarchaeological record of human remains viewed in the context of ecology, subsistence, and living circumstances provides a fundamental source for documenting and interpreting the impact of plant and animal domestication in the late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene. For Western Asia, Çatalhöyük (7100–5950 cal BC) in central Anatolia, presents a comprehensive and contextualized setting for interpreting living circumstances in this highly dynamic period of human history. This article provides an overview of the bioarchaeology of Çatalhöyük in order to characterize patterns of life conditions at the community level, addressing the question, What were the implications of domestication and agricultural intensification, increasing sedentism, and population growth for health and lifestyle in this early farming community? This study employs demography, biogeochemistry, biodistance analysis, biomechanics, growth and development, and paleopathology in order to identify and interpret spatial and temporal patterns of health and lifestyle under circumstances of rapid population growth and aggregation and changing patterns of acquiring food and other resources. The record suggests that the rapid growth in population size was fueled by increased fertility and birthrate. Although the household was likely the focus of economic activity, our analysis suggests that individuals interred in houses were not necessarily biologically related. Predictably, the community employed resource extraction practices involving increased mobility. Although oral and skeletal indicators suggest some evidence of compromised health (e.g. elevated subadult infection, dental caries), growth and development of juveniles and adult body size and stature indicate adjustments to local circumstances.

AB - The bioarchaeological record of human remains viewed in the context of ecology, subsistence, and living circumstances provides a fundamental source for documenting and interpreting the impact of plant and animal domestication in the late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene. For Western Asia, Çatalhöyük (7100–5950 cal BC) in central Anatolia, presents a comprehensive and contextualized setting for interpreting living circumstances in this highly dynamic period of human history. This article provides an overview of the bioarchaeology of Çatalhöyük in order to characterize patterns of life conditions at the community level, addressing the question, What were the implications of domestication and agricultural intensification, increasing sedentism, and population growth for health and lifestyle in this early farming community? This study employs demography, biogeochemistry, biodistance analysis, biomechanics, growth and development, and paleopathology in order to identify and interpret spatial and temporal patterns of health and lifestyle under circumstances of rapid population growth and aggregation and changing patterns of acquiring food and other resources. The record suggests that the rapid growth in population size was fueled by increased fertility and birthrate. Although the household was likely the focus of economic activity, our analysis suggests that individuals interred in houses were not necessarily biologically related. Predictably, the community employed resource extraction practices involving increased mobility. Although oral and skeletal indicators suggest some evidence of compromised health (e.g. elevated subadult infection, dental caries), growth and development of juveniles and adult body size and stature indicate adjustments to local circumstances.

KW - Biodistance

KW - Biomechanics

KW - Domestication

KW - Growth

KW - Paleodemography

KW - Paleopathology

KW - Stable isotopes

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DO - 10.1007/s10963-015-9084-6

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0892-7537

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SP - 27

EP - 68

JO - Journal of World Prehistory

JF - Journal of World Prehistory

IS - 1

ER -

Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Lives and Lifestyles of an Early Farming Society in Transition

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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