The Goddess and the Bull: Çatalhöyük: An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of Civilization

432 Pages·2017·29.07 MB·English

by  Michael Balter

The Goddess and the Bull
PRAISE FOR THE GODDESS AND THE BULL FROM ALL QUARTERS
From the profession...
“Michael Balter takes us on a fascinating journey through the excavations at one of the
world’s great archaeological sites. He provides an engrossing chronicle of one of the
world’s earliest farming villages and of the personalities and thought of the archaeolo-
gists engaged in the research—the human side of archaeology.”—Brian Fagan, Univer-
sity of California, Santa Barbara
“A superb biography of a super archaeological site!” —Bruce Trigger, McGill Univer-
sity, Montreal
“If you’re interested in when people first began to settle down in villages and towns,
and you can read only one book, this is the one to choose. If you’re interested in how
archaeologists reconstruct the social organization, economy and religion of prehistoric
communities and why they often disagree, this again is the book you want. And if you
think learning interesting stuff often means plowing through a lot of dull prose and
technical detail, you’ll be pleased to find that this is a book you’ll have a hard time put-
ting down.”—Richard Klein, Stanford University
From librarians...
“A canny narrative history of a wondrous archaeological site, full of personality and per-
sonalities, and ripe with thoughtful conjectures.” —Kirkus Reviews
From the press...
“(Balter) has produced a compelling read, one that achieves the double act of educat-
ing and entertaining.” —Science Magazine
“What else makes this book a cut above the normal look-what-we-dug-up text is its
digressions. Balter spins off to the politics of getting a site to dig, goddess worship, just
what makes scholars tick. He tells the story of real archaeologists doing real work.”
—Providence Journal
“All in all, this book is an exciting read. Balter knows his stuff and anyone interested in
the origins of civilization and the ultimate foundations of the modern world we live in
will enjoy and learn from it. Besides that, there is basically an undergraduate education
in archaeological theory included.”—Political Affairs
“This is a book for anyone interested in the history of the Middle East or in archeology,
of course, but will appeal as well to those who love to read about the history of science.
It should win awards.” —Books in Canada
“He leaves no controversy or good yarn untouched. This all makes for a readable book
that is as much an academics’ soap-opera as it is a factual account.” —Current Archaeology
THE
G O D D E S S
AND THE
B U L L
Çatalhöyük: An Archaeological Journey to
the Dawn of Civilization
MICHAEL BALTER
Illustrations by John-Gordon Swogger
First published 2006 by Left Coast Press, Inc.
Original hardcover edition of this book was published by Free Press, New York.
Published 2016 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © 2006 Taylor & Francis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and
are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
The goddess and the bull / Michael Balter
p.cm.
Added t.p. title: Çatalhöyük : An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of
Civilization
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index
1.Çatalhöyük Mound (Turkey) 2. Turkey—Antiquities. 3. Excavations
(Archaeology)—Turkey.
I.Title: Çatalhöyük : An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of Civilization
II.Title
GN776.32.T9B35 2005
939.2—dc22
2004057413
Cover illustrations: Bulgarian archaeologist Tatiana Stefanova examining a
bull figurine. Female “goddess” figurine uncovered in 2004 at the site. Illus-
trations courtesy of the ÇatalhöyükResearch Project.
ISBN 13: 978-1-59874-069-1 (pbk)

Disclaimer
The publisher has made everyeffort to trace copyright holders andwelcomescorrespondence
fromthosetheyhave beenunabletocontact.
For Catherine and Emma
and
in memory of Rick Harmon
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Preface to the Paperback Edition ix
Introduction 1
1 “It’s Neolithic” 7
2 A Prehistoric Art Gallery 21
3 The Dorak Affair 36
4 Ian Hodder 55
5 Return to Çatalhöyük 74
6 On the Surface 91
7 At the Trowel’s Edge 115
8 Dear Diary 134
9 The Neolithic Revolution 157
10 The Domesticated Human 173
11 Fault Lines and Homecomings 196
12 Burning Down the House 218
13 “Always Momentary, Fluid and Flexible” 236
14 The Long Season 252
15 ’Till Death Us Do Part 272
16 Taming the Wild 292
17 The Goddess and the Bull 309
Epilogue 331
Notes 339
Bibliography 369
Acknowledgments 383
Index 387
Positive roPloes mitiovdee rlo le model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role model
Positive role mPoosdietilv e role model
Positive roleP mosoitdievle role model
Positive role model
Preface to the Paperback Edition
F
or any author, the publication of a paperback edition of his or
her book is a major event, equivalent to a rebirth and a renewal. I cer-
tainly feel that way about the paperback you are holding in your hands.
Since its original publication in January 2005 by Free Press, The God-
dess and the Bullhas received a very positive reception from archaeolo-
gists, anthropologists, and the general public, despite occasional
quibbles over certain points (about which more in a moment). Even in
hardback, the book has already been adopted as a required text in a
number of university courses in prehistory and archaeological theory.
And I have received many kind e-mail messages from amateur archae-
ology buffs around the world telling me how much they learned from
the book and how much they enjoyed it. With the paperback, the story
of 9,500-year-old Çatalhöyük in Turkey—the largest early farming
community ever discovered, and a site key to understanding the origins
of civilization—should find many new readers, in the archaeological
community and far beyond.
When the book was first published, I had only a few clear ideas
about who its readers might be. Çatalhöyük, the prototypical Neolithic
(New Stone Age) village, is certainly well known to archaeologists and
prehistorians, and is discussed in nearly all textbooks covering early civ-
ilizations. And since its spectacular wall murals and sculptures of bulls,
vultures, and “goddesses” represent the earliest known art created on
human-made surfaces, the site often pops up in the first chapter of art
history books, just after the section on Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) cave
art. Another Çatalhöyük constituency is the feminist spirituality move-
ment, particularly that segment which practices worship of a Mother
Goddess; indeed, claims by the original excavator of Çatalhöyük,
James Mellaart, that such a deity was worshipped there—and even that
ix