Catal Huyuk: Sacred Architectu

The compact city settlement lacks ground level through paths but the flat roofs were commonly areas of urban activity as interiors had little light or ventilation. Despite their close proximity to one another, the each house had its own surrounding walls separated by a narrow space. There were only small windows near the ceiling that probably provided the inhabitants more security. The only entrance could be defended easily from inside. Trash was deposited in courtyards surrounding the residences.
             The one-story mud brick units were all approximately square and had varied roof levels. Constructed of standardized bricks interspersed with a wooden frame, the buildings were inhabited for nearly a century. When they neared disintegration, structures were filled in with rubble and a new house was built on top of the old residence. The homes ranged in size from 10" by 13 feet to as much as 13" by 20 feet. A similar design strategy was used for all residential units. In the main rectangular room, the interior floor space consisted of a series of platforms. The central platform was used as a space for women and children with a small higher platform usually on the northeast side used as a bed. Kitchen areas that contained horseshoe shaped ovens were directly under the roof entrance. Built-in benches with small niches carved into them lined the walls. One or two side rooms in the units were used for storage and animals.
             Wall decoration was an important facet of the structures in Catal Huyuk. The most extensive ornamentation was found in the shrines and buildings thought to have religious functions. Wall murals adorning the mud-brick walls were often repainted after a thin layer of plaster was applied to cover over past drawings. Most structures were utilized for nearly a century and during that time, the walls were replastered between thirty to sixty times although some buildings have up to two hundred layers of painted plaster.