Çatalhöyük, Archaeology, Violence

Abstract

Issues of violence were, until recently, neglected in studies of the Neolithic. Evidence of conflict was not sought, and potentially linked finds were ascribed to a different (often ritualistic) cause or significance. René Girard’s perspective provides archaeologists with the opportunity to support a more literal reading of imagery with physical evidence that might support the mimetic thesis: that there is a relationship between violence and religion in the genesis and maintenance of culture. An outlet must be found to dissipate reprisal violence in human groups because, if left unchecked, reprisal violence resulting from desire of the same things, both materially and socially, would spiral out of control and threaten the stability and, ultimately, the continued existence of the social group, especially in earliest densely populated villages. The goal here is to present evidence based on the study of humans remains that support Girard’s thesis.