Shadows on the Plaster: A Journal of Çatalhöyük
Third Day of the Summer Harvest
The morning light always enters our home first as a narrow, dusty beam, striking the hearth and waking me before the rest of the household. I lay on my woven reed mat for a moment, listening to the soft breathing of my family. Above us, the rectangular opening in the roof was a frame of pale blue sky. For my people, this opening is both our door and our window, the mouth through which our home breathes. I climbed the sturdy wooden ladder, my bare feet finding the familiar, smooth notches worn into the timber by years of use. Emerging onto the roof, the cool morning air of the Anatolian plateau rushed to greet me, carrying the scent of damp earth, roasting barley, and the faint, sweet smell of sheep from the pens down on the plain.
- obsidian:
- A dark, glassy volcanic rock that can be chipped to create extremely sharp blades and tools.
- marl:
- A type of light-colored clay or mud that contains calcium carbonate, used to make smooth plaster for walls.
- parapet:
- A low wall along the edge of a roof or terrace to prevent people from falling off.
- emmer:
- An ancient type of wheat that was one of the first crops domesticated by early farmers.
- knapping:
- The craft of striking stone or obsidian to shape it into tools, weapons, or blades.
- hearth:
- a stone- or brick-lined open fireplace or floor of a fireplace used for warmth and cooking
- ochre:
- a natural reddish or yellowish earthy mineral used as a pigment for making paint
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How do the people of Çatalhöyük enter and exit their homes?
- 2Why are the rooftops so important for daily activities in Çatalhöyük?
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About this diary entry passage for Middle School
“Shadows on the Plaster: A Journal of Çatalhöyük” is a diary entry reading passage about Ancient Civilizations, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (889 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.