Continuity and Change, Two Decades of Excavation and Research at Çatalhöyük

Excavations at the Neolithic Anatolian tell of Çatalhöyük have spanned more than two decades and comprised multi-national teams of researchers, students, staff, and volunteers. The overarching aims of the project include a commitment to reflexive archaeological practice and to situate the site within its environmental, economic, and social context. These aims have remained largely unchanged, though many research questions, interpretations, practices, and technologies have transformed. This third and final phase of the Çatalhöyük Research Project (ÇRP) has focused on the multi-scalar synthesis of data collected from various specialist labs, as well as the archiving of the vast corpus of collected data. With the long-standing excavations coming to a close, we consider the current state of research and methodologies conducted at the site within the context of the changes and continuities that have occurred throughout the project’s lifespan. In particular, we highlight the unique set of challenges and opportunities that arise from working with large amounts of legacy data. Topics that may be explored include: challenges and opportunities inherent in working with large datasets, legacy data, and the nature of and potential for collaborative work.