Correlations between specific attributes within the PN 1 Broad context

Nearly 87% of all depositions during the PN were found inside domestic structures. Only 4 objects were found deposited in courtyards; 3 from Hacılar and 1 from Mezraa- Teleilat. No extramural or non-bounded open areas provided any structured deposits during the PN. All but 5 of the decorated objects were also found within domestic structures.

6.5.2.2 Specific context

Comparing objects from “hidden” contexts, such as pits, post-holes, fill and midden to objects from “display” contexts such as walls, benches and platforms, several interesting correlations arise (Table 6.58). A greater proportion of multiple objects were placed in hidden locations; while a greater proportion of composite objects, made from more than a single material, were placed in display locations. Even though the proportion of elaborated to non-elaborated items deposited in display locations was far greater, it is interesting to consider the huge number of elaborated objects that had been deposited in hidden

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locations. Perhaps the creation of the object; the effort in its alteration, and/or the act of deposition were more meaningful to the actors than the visibility of the act. The proportion of bone to other material widens substantially from a sight favouring of inorganic material in hidden locations to a huge margin of bone over other material in display locations. This may be related to the statistic showing a bias towards composite materiality in display locations, as animal bone is far more likely to be plastered over in a conspicuous location than any other material. Pottery Neolithic Single object Many objects Single type Comp- osite Elabor -ated

Not Bone Not Pit, fill, P-H, midden n=181 106 57 147 32 113 67 84 97 Wall, bench, platform n=124 90 22 54 64 94 28 81 43 P=0.0066 P<0.0001 P=0.0113 P= 0.0015 Table 6.58 Statistically significant correlations between hidden and display locations during the PN.

6.5.2.3 Main material

Separating the material into depositions of bone and depositions of other materials, a great many statistically significant correlations arose (Tables 6.59 and 6.60). Bone and other materials were more likely to be placed horizontally, but the proportion is sevenfold for bone objects and twofold for other materials. The stability of unworked bone is variable at best and, if it has not been plastered or embedded, is likely to fall over. Although the elaboration of non-bone is far more frequent than the elaboration of bone objects, it is interesting to note that the proportion is much closer than had been in previous periods. Objects made of bone are more likely to be made of several types of materials than are non- bone objects (See 6.5.2.2), and objects of bone are more likely to be placed singly. Both kinds of materials are more likely to have been fragmented than left complete, although bone is far more likely to have been fragmented.

Pottery Neolithic

Horiz Vert Elab Not One type

Many One object

Many Complete Not Bone n=237 76 10 99 138 145 87 158 50 29 87

Not bone

n=214

32 16 182 32 176 34 118 75 50 83

P=0.0032 P<0.0001 P<0.0001 P=0.0017 P= 0.0406 Table 6.59 Statistically significant correlations between deposits of bone and other material during the PN

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Pottery Neolithic

Floor Wall Floor pit basin Niche plat thresh wall North west East south North south East west Bone n=237 24 63 64 82 205 5 96 122 Not bone n=214 36 35 83 45 185 12 119 78 P=0.0032 P=0.0006 P=0.0165 P= 0.0011

Table 6.60: Statistically significant correlations between deposits of bone and other material during the PN.

6.5.2.4 Visibility

Fewer than 40% of clearly visible items had been decorated in some way. Of these, 9 were plaster wall installations. The majority of clearly visible deposits were made of bone, 88% of which were head elements (Crania, jaw, tooth, antler, horn, or tusk). In contrast, the majority of invisible depositions were made of anything but bone; and, of the bone material, only 30% was comprised of head elements.

A great deal of contrast was exposed in comparing clearly visible objects with invisible objects (Tables 6.61 and 6.62). Over 60% of invisible items had been elaborated in some way, while only 6% had been decorated as well. I have included the correlation for elaboration along with the comparison of elaborated and decorated items to show how meaningful the second correlation is (Table 6.61). In general during the Pottery Neolithic, objects were more likely to have been elaborated: 208 objects were shaped; 32 were fashioned into figurines; 29 were coloured; 15 were sharpened; 10 were rounded and 8 were pierced. Of these 302 elaborated objects, less than 1/3 were also rendered with geometric lines, or fashioned to resemble a human, ruminant, or felid. The proportion of objects that had been further altered with decoration is much higher for those that would have been seen after deposition (48 objects had not been elaborated but had been broken).

Pottery Neolithic

Elaborated Not Elaborated Decorated Clearly visible n=42 24 18 24 18 Invisible n=255 154 101 154 15 P=0.7353 (not significant) P<0.0001

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Other interesting correlations between clearly visible and invisible deposits during the PN involve the main material of an object. More animal bone than human bone was deposited both clearly and invisibly, yet the proportion differs between three and thirteen times more likely to be animal. One could conjecture that either a greater emphasis was put on hiding animal bone, or on displaying human bone. There was a much greater

proportion of clearly visible animal crania, as well as head elements, to all animal bone. So, if an animal bone was to be made clearly visible, it was most likely to be a cranium or other head bone. Pottery Neolithic Human bone Anim bone

Plaster Clay Decor- ated Not All animal bone Animal crania Clearly visible n=42 6 19 9 3 18 24 19 (17 head) 4 Invisible n=255 9 117 12 28 15 229 117 (33 head) 6

P=0.0201 P=0.0079 P<0.0001 P= 0.0519 (not quite signif.)

Table 6.62: Statistically significant correlations between clearly visible and invisible deposits during the PN.

6.5.2.5 Elaboration

Köşk höyük distinguishes itself from the other ceramic Neolithic sites by producing the only specially deposited ruminant figurine made of ceramic. The other four ruminant figurines come from Çatalhöyük; three are made of clay, and one of plaster. 24/32 total figurines come from Çatalhöyük, and the majority if these are anthropomorphic. The other specially deposited anthropomorphic figurines or caches of figurines come from Ulucak (3), Hacılar (1) or Köşk (4). The figurines from Hacılar come from a niche in a house. The cache contained 10 clay female figurines and one larger figurine with a wooden peg head. Removable heads are found in earlier periods as well, and will be discussed in chapter 7.