Using “Magic” to Think from the Material: Tracing Distributed Agency, Revelation, and Concealment at Çatalhöyük

This study challenges conventional distinctions between magic and religion at Çatalhöyük, advocating for a material-centric approach that avoids Western categorizations. It suggests that the site's material culture reflects an 'entangled' world where functional, symbolic, sacred, and secular elements are indistinguishable. By focusing on distributed agency, revelation, and concealment, the research proposes that magic can be understood as a distinct but interconnected phenomenon to religion, rooted in embodied practice rather than abstract intellectual activity. This approach aligns with contemporary theoretical frameworks that prioritize materiality as the foundation of social life, offering a nuanced interpretation of Neolithic spiritual practices.

Nakamura, C., & Pels, P. (2014). Using “Magic” to Think from the Material: Tracing Distributed Agency, Revelation, and Concealment at Çatalhöyük. Religion at Work in a Neolithic Society, 187–224. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107239043.011