A sociologist from the University of Maine believes discoveries at the Anatolian archaeological site of Çatalhöyük could help explain the origins of European peoples. Jon T. Oplinger made the remarks in an interview with the Anadolu Agency.
Oplinger and colleague Prof. Waleck Dalpour co-authored a paper on communication and interaction between ancient societies, drawing on decorative figures found on pottery excavated at the site. He argued those images carry clues about early human history.
Pointing to advances in genetic archaeology, Oplinger noted that artifacts uncovered at Çatalhöyük closely resemble those found in southern Europe, lending support to the theory that early Europeans moved northward through Anatolia.
Çatalhöyük was first identified in the late 1950s and was excavated by James Mellaart from 1961 to 1965. The Neolithic settlement drew worldwide attention for its size, density, and remarkable wall paintings discovered within its structures. Since 1993, an international research team led by Ian Hodder has continued excavations at the site.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in December 2006, in its own words.