Arson or accident? The burning of a neolithic house at Catalhoyuk, Turkey

Abstract

This paper presents the results of interdisciplinary research on the recently excavated Building 52 at the Anatolian Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk. This building provides the richest combination of faunal, botanical, and lithic assemblages of all those uncovered since work at the site was renewed in 1995. Occupation of the building ended with a high-temperature fire, after which a portion of it was emptied and reoccupied.