Nationalgeographic.co.id – The site of Catalhoyuk in Anatolia, Turkey, has long been studied by archaeologists, paleontologists, and historians. The site was inhabited by early humans around 7,100 to 6,000 BC or during the epoch Neolitikum.
What makes this site attractive to scientists around the world is its vast size, and it is believed to have been one of the world’s first urban centers with a high population density of its time. This is evidenced by the existence of roofs and walls that have complex images in them.
Other archaeological remains found a long time ago were the charred remains of plants, various stone artifacts, and tool used for farming.
Regarding the diversity of the community around Catalhoyuk, and the findings that are quite a lot, researchers from Pompeu Fabra University Culture and Socio-Ecological Dynamics, and the University of Leicester wanted to know how their habits in the field of agriculture ancient.
The research group wrote its report, A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük of PLOS One, last June. They find a dynamic picture of the use, and importance of, wild plant resources by the Catalhoyuk residents in the past.
The study group was led by Carlos G. Santiago-Marrero, a pre-doctoral researcher from Pompeu Fabra University. Santiago-Marrero and team used an innovative approach that analyzes microscopic or microbotanical remains taken from ancient equipment.
Researchers believe this site to be the remains of the oldest agricultural civilization of mankind.
In their report, much is known of agricultural practices and use of plant resources, and not only in Catalhoyuk, but in other archaeological settlements.
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UPF
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The stones at the Catalhoyuk site were initially known to be used only for farming, but it turns out that there are remnants of industry to advance the livelihoods of local people in the Neolithic period.
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However, the remains at the site occur due to human activities carried out, either due to cooking food, or due to accidental fires. This finding is a limited description of the unique use of plant resources in the past that the researchers studied.
“We found remains trapped in the pits and crevices of this rock artifact dating to the time of use,” the researchers wrote in their report. “And then do a study of microbotanical remains. Then, reveal what types of plants have been processed with these artifacts in the past.”
Among the remains they observed, they found phytolites which are opal silica deposits in plant cells and cell walls. The researchers wrote, its existence is evidence of clues to the existence of plant anatomical parts, such as stems, wheat, and barley, which are already understood by the public.
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Nevit Dilmen/useum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey
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Woman sitting, archaeological finds at the site of atalhöyük, a Neolithic civilization in Anatolia, Turkey.
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Other residues are also found in starch which has a glucose compound that is used by plants to store energy. Large amounts of these compounds are found in many edible parts of plants, such as seeds and tubers.
The researchers concluded that the Catalhoyuk community in the past relied on their food and economy by growing vegetables, such as wheat and peas. However, it seems that there are still wild resources outside the circle of dependable plantations that have not been found on this site.
The researchers write, these wild plant resources are introduced as food, through a complex process. Then this wild plant seems to be considered as important as the domestic plant, which is most likely used regularly to supplement the diet, during the food crisis.
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Dan Lewandowski
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Artist’s impression of the Neolithic civilization in Catalhoyuk, Central Anatolia, Turkey, in the past.
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“Among the findings, we have shown that people use a wide variety of root crops. Many of these species belong to taxonomic families that are potentially toxic, requiring complex processing or use,” the researchers wrote.
“This demonstrates the great phytocultural knowledge this community has.”
Many of these root crops have limited seasonal life cycles. The researchers concluded the process was the way the ancient Catalhoyuk people managed and exploited the naman environment at different times of the year.
In addition, the researchers also explained another thing that was revealed, namely the processing of wild milet seeds. This finding has never been found among charred plant remains at the site by previous research.
While the agricultural equipment of ancient people at the site, is known to be used for other things, such as for processing the food industry.
“By combining evidence of microbotany with traces of use, we have discovered processes such as grain stripping, milling of peas, tubers and cereals, and even the use of these tools in other activities unrelated to crop processing,” conclude the researchers.
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