General Information

Çatalhöyük Gritty Coarse Ware is one of four wares found in Pisidia, specifically the Konya Basin, during what is being called the Early Tradition of the Neolithic in this area. All four of these early Neolithic wares appear to be made from lacustrine clay sources close to the sites. All fragments have a wide grey firing core, which is evidence of under-firing and/or an uncontrolled open fire. This may be the reason for the poorly preserved surfaces.

Çatalhöyük Gritty Coarse Ware originates in domestic contexts, in the earliest ceramic levels at Çatalhöyük (XII to VII) and also has a small presence in what is termed the Middle Period. It was first discovered in the 1960s by James Mellaart and later also in the excavations of Ian Hodder, beginning in 1993. This ware differs from the contemporary Çatalhöyük Vegetal-Tempered Coarse Ware in that it contains no or very little vegetal matter, making the clay body more firm. Surfaces are mottled, possibly due to poor preservation. Many preserved surfaces are simply wet-smoothed, but some also have traces of poor-quality burnishing. In some cases there are traces of a red or buff slip. (Özdöl, 2012, 7-12, 18-24). In an earlier study, Jonathan Last identified Çatalhöyük Gritty Coarse Ware as Sand-tempered ware (Last 1996, pp. 103-4).

The only attested shapes are deep and shallow bowls. All have thick-walls, and thick bases ranging from 1-2.5cm. The bowls vary in body shape and rim treatment. There are six variants: deep and shallow bowls with convex or globular body and slightly in-turned rim; deep and shallow bowls with upright walls and straight rims; hemispherical bowls; and cone-shaped bowls.

Çatalhöyük Gritty Coarse Ware vessels are made of local lacustrine clay, and have a "sandy" feel due to the dense, fine calcite particles and shell fragments. Fabric colors vary from light brown, light grey, and buff. Surfaces are often mottled, and range from light or dark brown, light or dark grey, buff, and red (rare), sometimes with traces of red or buff slip. When unslipped, surfaces appear to be wet smoothed. Most are burnished. (Özdöl, 2012, 18-24)