Two 8,000-Year-Old Naked Figurines Discovered In Çatalhöyük, Turkey

The smaller figurine, with the height of approx. 7 cm and weighing only 55 grams, is made in a more precise manner. The larger one measures approx. 17 cm in height and weighs 1 kg. The latter is made of marble; the smaller of limestone. They depict naked, full-figured female figures.

 “In the case of the smaller figurine are even the physiognomic characteristics of the face are visible, as if it were a portrait!” – Prof. Marciniak said with enthusiasm.

The discovery was made in the part of the tell (artificial mound formed as a result of settlement from the accumulated remains of, for example, crumbling walls of mud brick houses) that the Polish archaeologists had been studying since 2012.

In Çatalhöyük, there have been already unearthed hundreds of anthropomorphic figurines, but according to Polish archaeologists who have long excavated in Çatalhöyük, these two found recently, are indeed, unique.

 “Firstly, they are perfectly preserved. They were made of stone. Their significant sizes are also new” – said Prof. Marciniak.

“The discoveries in the form of small size clay figurines dominated so far. Most of them had their heads broken off. This was the case with the most famous artefact discovered in this part of the settlement – a clay figurine of mother goddess. The tradition making figurines of this shape probably dates back to the beginnings of the settlement, approx. 7.1 thousand years BC.”

“It is also rare that we discovered these monuments in situ, which means they were located exactly where the ancient residents left them. Until now, similar figurines were discovered in the garbage layers, not within a particular house. This allows to better understand the intentions of their creators.”

Both figures were closely linked to the two graves that were right by the platform – the then residents of Çatalhöyük buried their dead under the floor of their homes and continued to live in them.

“In this case, the situation was somewhat different. It appears that after the funeral the graves were filled and covered with an additional layer of plaster that also covered the discovered figurines,” the researcher explained.

“Rebuilt house remained occupied, and the room, in which the discovery was made, is located in the eastern part of a large house with the area of approx. 40 sq. m. It was significantly larger than any other house known from this period.”It was the part of the house that we call clean or ceremonial.

Western and southern parts of the house were used for utilitarian purposes” – he added.

The house studied by Polish archaeologists, comes from the time, in which the settlement was slowly declining after more than a thousand-year period of prosperity. This happened at the end of the seventh millennium BC. It was inhabited by fewer and fewer people.

The dwellings inside were not so carefully decorated with paintings.

Both figurines went to the museum storage in Konya. Scientists are hoping that next year they will manage to examine the two graves, which the figurines accompanied. For now, their contents remain a mystery for archaeologists.

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