Feathers and talons: birds at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Bird remains are few compared to mammals at Neolithic Catalhoyuk, but thanks in part to an extensive flotation program, an assemblage of more than 1300 specimens from secure contexts has been recovered and studied, covering nearly the entire ca. 1100-year sequence from the Neolithic East Mound. The Catalhoyuk inhabitants heavily targeted water birdsthroughout the sequence. However, the overall relative stability in taxa through time conceals considerable household variation both in areas of the landscape exploited and particular species taken or avoided. As I have argued for the mammals, this may result in part from tabooson some birds, notably herons, that apply only to certain households or other social categories. Indeed, in contrast to earlier sites nearby, the meatier portions of the skeleton are underrepresented at Catalhoyuk, with legs and especially wings predominating. Feathers were likely a major motivation for taking many of the birds, some of them used for costumes. Some bird bones appear in special deposits indicating a symbolic role for, at least, cranes, vultures, crows, and spoonbills.