The Baby in the Brick: A More-Than-Representational Approach to Architectural Action and Intramural Burial at Çatalhöyük

Figures & data

Fig. 1. Neonate embedded in a mudbrick at the base of a leaning mudbrick wall. Photo: Jason Quinlan. Courtesy Çatalhöyük Research Project.

Table 1. Human remains in contact with masonry at Çatalhöyük East. Age categories: (N_p) pre-term neonate; (N) neonate (0–6 months); (I) infant (6–36 months); (J) juvenile (3–12 years); (ado) adolescent (12–19 years); (A_y) young adult; (A_i) indeterminate adult. Data accessible at www.catalhoyuk.com/research.

				Depositional context
Body information				Construction					Occup.			Clos.		Wall traits
Age	Burial Feature	Building	Description	Foundation trench	Packed against wall	In brick/mortar	Cut into wall below	Between wall fill	Packed against wall	Burial cut along wall	Cut into wall	Cut into wall	In posthole	Wall Feature	Leans	Repair	Midden footing	Retaining wall (is/has)	Buttresses	None
J	8450	17	Complete	X										567			X
Np	2517	56	Complete	X										2069				X	X
N	2519	56	Complete	X										2069				X	X
Ai	3681	114	3 fingers, articulated	X										3681				X
Ay	8376	131	Complete	X										7990		X
Np	8706	131	Complete	X										7990		X
N	205	1	Complete		X									3						X
Np	206	1	Complete		X									3						X
N	208	1	Complete		X									3						X
N	537	6	Complete		X									484						X
N	1530	53	Complete		X									1527			X
J; N	7330	108	Juv. complete; neo. cranium		X									3026			X		X
Np	8367	131	Complete(?)		X									7710, 7711			X
ado	772	3	Metatarsal			X								772		X
Np	N/A	E. VI. 14	Complete (Mellaart 1963:75)			X								N/A	X
J	7860	77	Complete				X							7149				X
Ai	79	2	Metatarsal					X						79, 74					X
I	1412	45	Cranium, mandible, ribs and vertebrae						X					1413						X
N	1431	45	Complete						X					1414	X
N	96	50	Complete						X					286				X
J	36	1	Complete							X				1						X
I	45	1	Complete							X				1						X
I	475	6	Complete							X				486						X
I	476	6	Complete							X				484						X
Np	1430	45	Complete							X				1427				X
Np	1541	53	Complete							X				1527			X
N	2020	58	3 complete							X				2147				X
I	44	1	2 complete								X			1						X
N	2027	58	Complete								X			2145		X
N	2028	58	2 Complete								X			2145		X
N	2038	58	Complete								X			2145		X
I	1570	58	Complete									X		1564	X
J	3520	97	Leg bones (disartic.)									X		4087, 4088	X
Np, Ai	3467	89	Ad. mandible; neo. vertebrae										X	3463						X
Ai	7000	96	Phalanges only										X	4090						X

Fig. 2. Human remains in and against walls at Çatalhöyük. (a) F.7330: Juvenile and neonate cranium against a buttress, in foundation packing. (b) F.1570: Infant cut into leaning wall at closure. (c) F.3681: Articulated adult fingers below bottommost bricks in a retaining wall. Photos: Scott Haddow (a), Jason Quinlan (b, c). Courtesy Çatalhöyük Research Project.

Fig. 3. The walls of Building 24, incorporating the buried structures Buildings 6 and 17. Photo: Jason Quinlan. Courtesy Çatalhöyük Research Project.

Mellaart, J., 1963. Excavations at çatal Hüyük, 1962: Second Preliminary Report. Anatolian Studies, 13, 43–103. doi:10.2307/3642490

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