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James Mellaart

British archaeologist

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James Mellaart was a British archaeologist known for his excavations at Çatalhöyük in south-central Turkey. His work at this major Neolithic site revealed that Anatolia was a center of an advanced culture during the Neolithic period. The earliest occupation at Çatalhöyük dates to around 6700 BCE, with the latest around 5650 BCE. The inhabitants lived in mud-brick houses, likely accessed from the roof, and cultivated grains and seeds while likely practicing animal husbandry. Mellaart's findings, particularly the brilliant wall paintings in the shrines, provided significant insights into Neolithic art and symbolism, linking them to Upper Paleolithic art.12

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