Holistic approaches to palaeohydrology: Reconstructing and modelling the Neolithic River Çarşamba and the riverscape of Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Neolithic settlements around Çatalhöyük, Turkey, were less vulnerable to flooding than previously thought. A multi-method approach combining sedimentological reconstructions, climate and vegetation proxies, and hydrological modelling revealed that crops in the region experienced more evenly distributed flooding throughout the year with relatively unerosive flows. The study also highlighted significant interannual and decadal variability, suggesting that subsistence patterns at Çatalhöyük were resilient to drought conditions, enabling the settlement to thrive for over a millennium. This interpretation aligns with archaeological evidence of diverse plant and animal remains.

Wainwright, J., & Ayala, G. (2021). Holistic approaches to palaeohydrology: Reconstructing and modelling the Neolithic River Çarşamba and the riverscape of Çatalhöyük, Turkey. The Holocene, 32(11), 1277–1304. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836211041744