A society of things: animal figurines and material scales at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

At the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, animal figurines—comprising over half of the figurine assemblage (741 horns and 449 quadrupeds)—served as active conduits between humans and wild animals, facilitating intimate, embodied interactions that were not possible with large-scale art or plaster installations. These meticulously crafted, small-scale figures, often depicting cattle, boar, or deer with anatomical precision, enabled democratized engagement across species divides through their portability and immediacy. The study highlights how figurines bridged material scales, embodying social and symbolic roles that transcended the limitations of narrative paintings or hunting trophies, offering a unique lens into Neolithic material culture.

Meskell, L. (2015). A society of things: animal figurines and material scales at Neolithic Çatalhöyük. World Archaeology, 47(1), 6–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2014.991800