A study published in the journal Science reveals evidence that the 9,000-year-old society of Çatalhöyük in Turkey may have been centered around women. DNA analysis of 131 ancient skeletons suggests that maternal lineage played a role in the social organization of the early agricultural community.
An international team led by Eren Yüncü and Mehmet Somel from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara conducted genetic examinations of hundreds of human remains from Çatalhöyük. Their findings revealed that intergenerational connections between burials were primarily based on maternal lineage. "We were not specifically looking for these maternal connections within the buildings, but this clearly demonstrates that the male-centered practices that have often been documented in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe were not universal," said Somel, according to Live Science.
The study analyzed remains taken from 31 different buildings, solving the kinship relationships of 109 individuals. The results showed that first-degree relatives were buried under the same house's floor, while second-degree relatives, such as uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and grandparents, and third-degree relatives like cousins and great-grandparents, were usually buried in nearby buildings. This burial pattern suggests that nuclear or extended families played a role in structuring households, with intergenerational connections primarily based on maternal lineage.
One of the discoveries was that girls who died at Çatalhöyük were adorned with more burial offerings than boys, with an average of five times more grave goods. Once the biological sex of these children was determined, researchers identified a trend linked to female sex in the burial goods. This finding provides evidence that women and girls were key figures in the agricultural society, indicating that the city was centered on women.
Benjamin Arbuckle, an archaeologist who wrote an editorial about the study in Science, commented on the implications of the findings. "If the sex patterns were reversed, there would probably be no doubt in concluding that patriarchal power structures were at play," he said, according to Live Science. He added, "This reflects the difficulty many scholars have in imagining a world characterized by substantial female power, despite the abundant archaeological, historical, and ethnographic evidence that matriarchal spheres of power were and are widespread."
Çatalhöyük, built around 7100 BCE and occupied for nearly 1,000 years, marks one of the turning points in the history of civilization. The proto-city is renowned for its distinctive architecture, which includes houses accessed by rooftops and burials under the floors. It is also famous for its symbolism, such as vivid murals and a diverse collection of female figurines.
These female statuettes were initially interpreted as evidence of a Mother Goddess cult, supporting the notion of a matriarchal society. James Mellaart, who discovered Çatalhöyük in the 1960s, suggested that the cult was perhaps a way to ensure a good harvest after an economic transition from foraging to cereal-based agriculture. However, this interpretation was later questioned by research describing Çatalhöyük as a more egalitarian society.
In the 1990s, Stanford archaeologist Ian Hodder took over the excavations at Çatalhöyük. His analyses suggested that the society was largely egalitarian, with no social or economic differences between men and women. The new DNA evidence, however, provides fresh insights into the social dynamics of the ancient community.
"The most striking result was that intergenerational ties in burial placements were predominantly established through the mother," Somel stated, according to Halk TV. He explained that this matrilineal pattern contrasts sharply with the patrilineal structures seen in Neolithic Europe. "We hope that this study will inspire further research on the social structures of ancient societies," he added.
The study also sheds light on longstanding debates regarding the role of women in early societies. "Determining whether this site is unique is an important next step," Somel noted. "We are now producing similar data from earlier societies from the region, so hopefully we'll have an answer soon!"
Arbuckle highlighted the broader implications of the findings. "Çatalhöyük now stands in stark contrast to the patrilineal patterns seen in Neolithic Europe, which raises the intriguing question of when, how, and why such a profound shift in social organization occurred," he said.
The ancient DNA analysis also revealed the biological sex of infants and young children, which cannot be determined from skeletons until after puberty. This allowed researchers to identify gender-specific burial practices. "This was also an unexpected result," Somel remarked.
The evidence suggests that Çatalhöyük had a matriarchal society or at least one that was strongly centered on women, deepening the understanding of its social organization. The settlement is now recognized as the oldest society where DNA evidence has revealed a female-centered social structure, providing the first systematic evidence of a continuously matrilineal Neolithic community.
"Analyzing the skeletons of Çatalhöyük to understand social relationships is just the beginning," Somel said. "We hope that this study will inspire further research on the social structures of ancient societies."
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.