http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ mirrored file For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== *Catal Huyuk* *GEOGRAPHY Lat: 37.6°N, Long: 32.9°E* *Catal Huyuk was situated along the southern edge of the great salt depression in central Anatolia. It was likewise on the northern edge of the fertile Konya Plain, the city of Konya being to the northwest about 30 miles. However, the two cities never knew each other, as Catal Huyuk flourished around 8000 years ago. Both cities lie along the piedmont routes, or the edge of the foothills, where upland water sinking into the ground agains comes to the surface as springs. It is very probable Catal Huyuk exploited the salt deposits to the north, at Tuz Golu [Salt Lake]. * *Cities along the piedmont seem to have been connected with other remote early cities, for example Jericho, in Palestine, over 1500 miles to the southeast. Both cities existed at the very dawn of man?s civilization, being the oldest cities so far uncovered. In these cities man first grew crops, and began setting up complex social structures that developed into ? civilization.? Catal Huyuk is a Neolithic city, using stone and bone for tools, and disappeared before metal was widely used. What is surprising is the size of the city. The city was built between 6500 and 5700 BCE.* *Catal Huyuk lies 3000 feet above sea level, and actually was built in two areas, leaving two mounds. The largest is 32 acres in size, and with combined population, sould be considered a large city. By the 7^th millennia Catal Huyuk was a trade center, long before the ancient cities of Mesopotamia could be called more than villages. The city lies along the edge of a small river, outlined by a few scattered poplars, and nearby are crater lakes, though the water at the crater is unfit. The plain stretches away, and one can see for miles, as far as the volcanoes, now called Hasan Dag. Obsidian was obtained here, as well as at Karaca Dag. This may have been the primary trade item; flint tools and raw flint cores. * *THE CITY* *The city was built with the houses joined together, facing into a common court. There being no windows or openings outward, the city presented a fortified city wall. The city grew in outward expanding rings, or lobes, always retaining the outward walls. The houses were rectangular mud-brick with flat roofs. This style is found again at Hacilar to the west, and the general plan still can be found today. Each one room house had an adjoining small room for use as a storeroom. Entry was through a door or opening part-way up the wall, probably using a short ladder which could be removed. This entry gives one a sense of security from water run-off, wandering animals, and perhaps it was easier to defend the family. * *The homes ranged from 10 x 13 to as much as 13 x 20 feet, with pillar-like enlargements set in the walls to support the roof. There were one or two platforms, the walls and platforms being plastered and occasionally painted red. Many of the rooms had paintings on the walls and / or the ceiling. These paintings are the oldest in the world, and were most elaborate in the cult building.* *One room in a complex was set aside as a shrine for the mother goddess. The cult room had paintings of animals, and cryptic symbols, as well as the usual geometric patterns seen elsewhere. During excavation, it was found that the cult room was frequently rebuilt, and many religious articles were uncovered. Most were votive statuettes, in the form of pottery with reliefs of the mother goddess, bulls heads and horns, womens breasts, and leopards. These religious items show a high degree of skill, and cultural refinement. The over-riding theme is of a mother goddess of fertility cult. The cult seems to be the precursor of Artemis, known as Cybele in Anatolia. **© 2000, Rodney R. Baird* * **