TOP: BRUNO COSSA/FOTOTECA 9X12. RIGHT: MAURICIO ABREU/AWL-IMAGESMountain or
Man-Eater?
HASAN DA÷I, A DORMANT, 10,500-
FOOT-HIGH VOLCANO IN TURKEY’S
CENTRAL MASSIF, WAS ACTIVE WHEN
ÇATALHÖYÜK WAS INHABITED.A FAMOUS MURAL from Çatalhöyük shows a
large polka-dotted figure above a series of boxy
shapes (right). It was once thought to depict a
leopard skin, but researchers now believe the
spotted form in the upper part of the drawing is
showing a volcanic eruption. Hasan Da÷i, a now
dormant volcano, is situated 80 miles north-
east of Çatalhöyük. The mountain was a rich
source of obsidian, the volcanic rock prized by
Çatalhöyük’s ancient residents for making tools
and mirrors. In 2013 volcanologist Axel Schmitt
proved that Hasan Da÷i erupted nearly 9,
years ago, which coincides with the age of
the building in which the mural was painted.
Schmitt believes this wall painting could be
considered the world’s oldest map because
it shows not only the active volcano but also
an overhead view of the village below.