Çatalhöyük, one of the world’s oldest and most significant Neolithic settlements, is now being explored through the lens of cutting-edge artificial intelligence. This innovative approach, exemplified by artist Refik Anadol’s groundbreaking AI data sculpture, offers a unique “study guide” to understanding this ancient site in Konya, Turkey. By leveraging machine learning algorithms on the vast archaeological archive of Çatalhöyük, we gain new perspectives on its rich history and cultural significance.
Refik Anadol’s AI Data Sculpture: A Digital Exploration of Çatalhöyük
Refik Anadol, renowned for his pioneering work in AI-driven art, embarked on a project to reinterpret the extensive excavation archive of Çatalhöyük. Utilizing 2.8 million data records from 25 years of research by the Çatalhöyük Research Project, Anadol’s media installation provides a poetic and immersive experience. This “Çatalhöyük AI study guide” in artistic form translates over 1000 relational database tables into a visually stunning AI Data Sculpture.
The archive itself is a comprehensive digital repository, meticulously organized by experts. It encompasses millions of interconnected data points, including tabular records, field diaries, images, and detailed technical reports. These records are categorized by units, spaces, features, and buildings unearthed at Çatalhöyük, a UNESCO World Heritage site. By employing sophisticated machine learning algorithms to discern patterns and relationships within this immense dataset, Anadol transforms raw archaeological data into an engaging and insightful AI Data Sculpture installation. This project marks a pioneering moment in archaeology, representing the first instance where a data source of this scale is used within an artistic and aesthetic framework to illuminate historical understanding.
Unveiling New Dimensions of Çatalhöyük Through AI
Anadol’s installation, sponsored by Arçelik and technically implemented by PATTU Architecture, represents more than just art; it’s a novel method for engaging with and studying Çatalhöyük’s history. His work encourages a search for multidimensional data interaction, allowing viewers to experience the depth and complexity of the archaeological findings in a completely new way. As Anadol himself articulated during his residency at Google’s Artists and Machine Intelligence (AMI) program, his “AI Data Painting” and “AI Data Sculpture” concepts explore the creative potential of artificial intelligence. He questions whether machines can “dream” or “hallucinate,” driving his artistic inquiry into visualizing these machine-generated perceptions.
This “Çatalhöyük AI study guide” through art invites us to contemplate the evolving relationship between human understanding and machine intelligence. It demonstrates how AI can not only process and analyze vast amounts of data but also offer imaginative interpretations that enhance our comprehension of historical sites like Çatalhöyük. The exhibition “The Curious Case of Çatalhöyük” at ANAMED, which featured Anadol’s work, served as a platform to witness this innovative approach to studying the past, bridging the realms of research, archaeology, art, and technology for a richer, more accessible understanding.
