Çatalhöyük and Its landscapes

The landscape surrounding the site of Çatalhöyük has been transformed by centuries of land use and agricultural improvements. This article uses higher-resolution sedimentary data than previously available to reinterpret the past environments of the site and the potential for different land uses. The authors discuss the current state of understanding of the ancient topography and environmental niches available to the Neolithic occupants of Çatalhöyük through a critical review of the palaeoenvironmental evidence currently available. Their study shows that Neolithic Çatalhöyük most likely sat within a broad channel belt of multiple anastomosing channels with a series of drier islands and localized wetter areas. There would have been a mosaic of conditions, with river banks supporting tree and shrub vegetation, and the islands providing areas for cultivation.