The paintings from Neolithic Çatalhöyük and the Delicate Balance Between Research & Conservation

Full title: The paintings from Neolithic Çatalhöyük and the Delicate Balance Between Archaeological Research and Conservation

Conserving prehistoric architectural paintings presents a number of challenges. On the one hand, their consolidation is made difficult by the fragility and fast decay of their earthen supports once exposed during archaeological excavation. On the other hand, paintings often show complex sequences of superimposed plastering and painting events, demanding a delicate negotiation between the needs of conservation and those of archaeological research. While the consolidation of painted plasters enhances the durability of the physical objects therefore enabling their presentation to the public, it also ‘freezes’ paintings at one moment in time, rendering static and durable something that is archaeologically understood as highly dynamic and everchanging. This paper discusses ways of balancing research and conservation in archaeological practice with a focus on the architectural paintings from the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk (Turkey). In particular, it will discuss methods of archaeological research that enable investigation of the complex morphology and temporal transformation of the paintings while minimizing the destructive impact of traditional archaeological methods. A major focus of this paper will be on block plaster sampling, small-scale targeted excavation, and digital methods such as 3D modelling and Reflectance Transformation Imaging.

Gesualdo Busacca (Stanford University)

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