New insights on commemoration of the dead through mortuary and architectural use of pigments at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey

A groundbreaking analysis of Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7100–5950 cal BC) reveals that pigment use in burials and architecture reflected complex social and symbolic practices. The study found distinct patterns: red ochre was most common, cinnabar was predominantly associated with males, while blue/green pigments linked to females. Notably, the number of painted layers in buildings correlated with the number of buried individuals, suggesting a connection between mortuary practices and architectural contexts. These findings indicate that pigment application followed specific selection processes independent of sex or age, pointing to shared long-term socio-cultural rituals involving visual expression and symbolic associations.

Schotsmans, E. M. J., Busacca, G., Lin, S. C., Vasić, M., Lingle, A. M., Veropoulidou, R., Mazzucato, C., Tibbetts, B., Haddow, S. D., Somel, M., Toksoy-Köksal, F., Knüsel, C. J., & Milella, M. (2022). New insights on commemoration of the dead through mortuary and architectural use of pigments at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07284-3