This book provides a synthesis of Late Neolithic / Early Chalcolithic imagery from South-Central Anatolia, encompassing both Central Anatolia and the Lake District. It explores the nature of transformations and continuities in imagery during the period between 6500-5500 BC. The author examines three main categories of artifacts - pottery, figurines and stamp seals - to trace the presence and transformation of particular images in time.
The Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük (7100- 5950 BC) in Central Anatolia is renowned for its elaborate art found inside the houses. A wide variety of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometric motifs and themes were reproduced on wall paintings, reliefs and mobile objects. The author addresses the question of what happened with the repertoire of motifs in the upper levels of Çatalhöyük and after its abandonment, and what circumstances might have been related to this transformation. To reassess the imagery, data was collected from Late Neolithic levels at Çatalhöyük investigated by the Polish team since 2001, as well as from four intensively excavated sites from the Lakes region: Haclar, Kuruçay, Höyücek and Bademaac. The author applies the semiotic perspective of American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, which they argue is a useful framework for discussing the imagery and its transformation over time. The analytical model used is the so-called replication, which allows grasping the diachronic changes. It has never been applied to studies on Neolithic / Chalcolithic imagery.
Chapter
1. Introduction.
Chapter
2. The emergence of the Neolithic
imagery of Central Anatolia.
Chapter
3. Introduction to the Lake District
Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic.
Chapter
4. Where did the Lake District
Neolithic come from?
Chapter
5. Charles S. Peirces semiotics in the study
of prehistoric imagery.
Chapter
6. Materials and methods.
Chapter
7.
Transformations of imagery - data analysis.
Chapter
8. Imagery of South -
Central Anatolia in a broader regional context.
Chapter
9. Conclusions.
Patrycja Filipowicz is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Archaeology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Pozna, a position she has held since 2020. She has participated in various international research projects such as DOVTA, NEARCH, ALIGNED, CARE. Since 2005, she has been a member of an archaeological expedition to the UNESCO World Heritage List site of Çatalhöyük, directed by Arkadiusz Marciniak. Her scientific interests include the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Near East & Anatolia, theory and methods in archaeology, semiotics, prehistoric ritual, religion & art, big data & e-learning in archaeology. She has also been involved in public and community archaeology activities, with the aim of promoting archaeological science among non-professionals.
