Bodies in buildings: Human remains and the life histories of houses at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

At Neolithic Çatalhöyük, human remains were intricately linked to the life cycles of houses, marking architectural milestones and reflecting shared biographies between individuals and their built environment. Unlike other regions where burials often occurred in abandoned structures, most inhumations at Çatalhöyük took place during house occupation, with bodies embedded in floors or platforms. This study reveals how the construction, adornment, transformation, and abandonment of houses were intertwined with the lives of those buried within them, using examples to illustrate these connections.

Haddow, S. D. (2025). Bodies in buildings: Human remains and the life histories of houses at Neolithic Çatalhöyük. Archaeological Research in Asia, 41, 100598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2025.100598