Çatalhöyük, Turkey
A 9,000-year-old Anatolian Town
Heavily eroded areas of Catalhoyuk before excavation work began.
Çatalhöyük is a site that faces a number of natural threats, including high winds, heavy snow and exposure. Erosion is also a significant threat to the site’s remains as the buildings were largely constructed of unfired mudbrick, easily degraded by water action. Threatened by exposure to the elements and erosion, the construction of permanent protective shelters has been successful in keeping the damage to a minimum. GHF has focused its contributions to preserving this important site in the areas of conservation intervention and training, the improvement of site interpretation and increasing community involvement in the site. A dropping water table resulting from intensive irrigation in the area is also threatening the preservation of the site’s remains.
