Aesthetic, Social, and Material Networks: A Perspective from the Flint Daggers at Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Flint daggers from Çatalhöyük served as central nodes in social and material networks during the Neolithic period. Analysis of their manufacture, use, and deposition reveals their pivotal role in the artisanal social fabric of sedentary communities in Central Anatolia. These daggers were not merely tools but symbols deeply embedded in ritual practices, particularly during Çatalhöyük's peak ritual activity. By examining the intentionality behind their production and use, researchers uncover how material milieus shaped the social structures necessary for large-scale sedentary societies.

Nazaroff, A. J., Tsoraki, C., & Vasic, M. (2016). Aesthetic, Social, and Material Networks: A Perspective from the Flint Daggers at Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 26(1), 65–92. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774315000347