1 103 D South Mesopotamia @ The development of irrigation techniques further north permitted the colonization of the alluvial plains of southern Mesopotamia. By 4000 BC some villages here were becoming larger and more organized, with substantial and often spectacular temple complexes in which agricultural produce was stored and crafts like weaving and pottery-making were undertaken.
# South Mesopotamia, Early temple at Uqair
2 102 C North Mesopotamia @ Farming settlements were widespread in northern Mesopotamia within the zone where rainfed agriculture was possible. However, by 6000 BC, a number of sites appeared outside this zone, often with evidence of irrigation, a significant technological advance. Other advances can be seen in the fine quality stone figurines and painted pottery now made in northern Mesopotamia.
# North Mesopotamia, figurine from Sawwan
3 103 B The Levant and Cyprus @ Sometime after 7000 BC, settlers colonized the offshore island of Cyprus, taking with them not only their domestic plants and animals but also wild deer. Curiously, although they came from a pottery-using culture, they reverted to making stone vessels. On the Levant mainland, there was a shift in the areas occupied after 6000 BC.
# Levant and Cyprus, Khirokitia stone bowl
4 103 A Anatolia @ Outstanding among the settlements now appearing in Anatolia was «atal Hˆy¸k, an enormous complex of adjoining mudbrick structures entered by ladders from the roof. Many of the rooms are dwellings or storerooms, but about one third may have been shrines, lavishly decorated with painted, relief and moulded animal heads and scenes.
# Anatolia, vultures and headless corpse painting, Catal Hˆy¸k
