Çatalhöyük: Living Without Hierarchy | Prof. Ian Hodder

In this episode, Professor Ian Hodder and I explore Çatalhöyük, one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. We discuss what archaeology is, how excavation works, and why Çatalhöyük gives us such a rare insight into the beliefs, myths, art, and daily life of people living around 9,000 years ago. Professor Hodder explains the role of ancestors, vultures, wild animals, domesticating plants and animals, and the transition from hunter-gatherer life to settled farming communities. We also discuss his theory of entanglement, how humans become trapped by the things they create, and how this applies both to agriculture and modern technologies like AI. Finally, we explore hierarchy, egalitarianism, gender, matrilineal society, reflexive archaeology, community participation, and what Çatalhöyük can teach us today about living with less hierarchy, less consumption, and more collective care.