Fossil hunting in the Neolithic: Shells from the Taurus Mountains at Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Archaeological research at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, reveals that inhabitants collected and utilized fossil shells from distant mountain basins during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period. The study identifies approximately 200 mollusk fossils, including Miocene-era gastropods and bivalves from the Taurus Mountains (50 km away) and Pliocene scaphopods from the Hatay Basin. These fossils, primarily found in late-phase deposits, are linked to feasting activities, suggesting they were gathered either by local transhumant communities or visitors. The findings provide evidence of Neolithic fossil procurement practices and long-distance resource acquisition, offering insights into ancient human behavior and environmental interactions.

Mayer, D. E. B.-Y., Gümüş, B. A., & İslamoğlu, Y. (2010). Fossil hunting in the Neolithic: Shells from the Taurus Mountains at Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Geoarchaeology, 25(3), 375–392. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.20311