Catal Huyuk is famous for what notable feature in its urban planning?

Catal Huyuk, an important archaeological site from the Neolithic period located in present-day Turkey, is especially notable for its unique urban planning and architecture. The site is characterized by its closely packed, rectangular houses that were constructed from mud-brick. This arrangement led to an unusual layout where homes were built right next to each other without streets separating them. Instead, the rooftops of these rectangular structures served as pathways for movement throughout the settlement.

The choice of rectangular houses reflects the practicalities and social dynamics of the inhabitants, providing both living space and communal areas while serving functional purposes such as storage and cooking. The absence of streets and complex road networks highlights the site’s distinctive urban design, which contrasts sharply with later city planning that incorporated defined streets and road systems.

Thus, the emphasis on rectangular houses is what makes Catal Huyuk significant in the study of early urban planning, showcasing an early form of community organization that deviated from the typical city layouts seen in other ancient civilizations.