Resilience and Redundance: Resource Networks and the Neolithic Chert Economy at Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Neolithic communities at Çatalhöyük, Turkey, demonstrated resilience through dynamic resource networks, particularly in their use of chert. By analyzing portable x-ray fluorescence data, researchers found that the consumption of different chert resources was shaped by social and environmental factors, influencing—and being influenced by—the community's material practices. These networks either promoted or restricted resource use over time, revealing how Çatalhöyük's inhabitants adapted to diverse landscapes. The study highlights the importance of considering varied relationships with social and environmental contexts to fully understand Neolithic life.

Nazaroff, A. J., Baysal, A., Çiftçi, Y., & Prufer, K. (2015). Resilience and Redundance: Resource Networks and the Neolithic Chert Economy at Çatalhöyük, Turkey. European Journal of Archaeology, 18(3), 402–428. https://doi.org/10.1179/1461957114y.0000000081