The Site
Çatalhöyük is an archaeological site of great importance and cultural value. Located near Çumra, Konya in present-day Turkey, Çatalhöyük is one of the largest Neolithic sites in the Middle East. It consists of two mounds that provide evidence for at least eighteen levels of human occupation over 2000 years of inhabitation, from approximately 7100 to 5900 BC. The extensive excavation of the site for thirty years over the course of six decades, first by James Mellaart and then by Dr. Ian Hodder, has resulted in a comprehensive understanding of a Neolithic society unique in its scope and duration. Recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as “the most significant human settlement documenting early settled agricultural life of a Neolithic community” it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 (UNESCO 2018). Archaeological interpretation of the site suggests that the community residing at Çatalhöyük in the Neolithic period was egalitarian
To explore the site of Çatalhöyük in more detail, see the Çatalhöyük Research Project
The objective of the experience is to explore different aspects of the Çatalhöyük site, with specific focus on the egalitarian nature of the society. It is a virtual experience, designed for use while not on site and is addressed to young people between the ages of 8-16, however it can also be experienced by adults as well.
The experience
The Exploration of Egalitarianism Digital Education Kit explores the Stone Age site of Çatalhöyük and its egalitarian society. Through the use of 3D printed replicas of real artifacts, a virtual tour of reconstructed houses, and a ChatBot acting as facilitator of a dialogue activity, students learn what egalitarianism is, how it is reflected in the archaeology, and what it might have meant to live in an egalitarian community!
The kit has 3 components:
Welcome to Çatalhöyük: A personality quiz to determine your role in Çatalhöyük.
An Egalitarian Trading Experience: An interactive exploration of reconstructed houses from Çatalhöyük, in which participants make some tough decisions about their possessions!
Bo the Chatbot: A group discussion led by a Chatbot that reveals more about the site and prompts participants to think about what it means to live in an egalitarian society.
What others think about it
The evaluation of the experience demonstrated the potential of the Kit to develop the tenets of historical empathy. The majority of the young participants responded positively to the overall experience, with students commenting on their enjoyment and their interest in partaking in similar experiences.
Try it!
Çatalhöyük Digital Kit
You can explore the experience in more detail and try it here.
The Kit has been designed and developed through the collaboration of our group with the University of York and namely Sara Perry, Professor in Cultural Heritage Management in the Department of Archaeology and Sierra McKinley.