Ancient Turkish farming community brought down 9,000 years ago

 Members of an ancient Turkish farming community were one of the first-ever groups to behold the worst conditions urban dwelling has to offer. 

In the ancient ruins of Çatalhöyük, which is located in modern day Turkey, new research from an international team of bio-archaeologists reveals that inhabitants of the 9,000-year-old community contended with overcrowding, infectious diseases, violence and environmental problems.

In a report on the findings by Ohio State University, researchers say clues in the ancient city offers insight into the perils of nomadic civilizations transitioning to more permanent living arrangements. 

Çatalhöyük which is located in central Turkey was spans about 32 acres, was occupied for more than 1,100 years and at its peak was inhabited by 8,000 people. Despite the settlements relative longevity, the community eventually fell victim to a number of side-effects of urban life — among them, say researchers, was interpersonal violence. Throughout the course of the 25-year study, scientists collected data on more than 740 individuals’ remains and found that about 25 percent of the skulls uncovered showed signs of trauma. 

Specifically, the skulls displayed signs of healing from damage by small projectiles — researchers posit they may have stemmed from small clay balls flung by slingshots –which may point to disputes between neighbors that eventually turned violent. 

Dietary changes, particularly a switch to a grain-based diet caused many of the settlement’s residents to develop tooth decay. About 10 to 13 percent of the teeth uncovered showed signs of cavities. Dwellings, which were stacked literally on top of one another and required denizens to enter their home via a ladder to the roof, were both proximate and unsanitary, making them a hotbed for pathogens. 

Researchers say in the end it wasn’t disease or violence that led to Çatalhöyük’s demise in 5950 BC, however, it was another familiar threat of human kind — climate change.

The new findings offer a fresh look into what neolithic cities looked like but also help chart a course on how cities evolved from the earliest known settlements to the sprawling metropolis’ we see today.

(James Pero for Dailymail.com)