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(upbeat music)

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- New archeological evidence
from the stone age city

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of Catalhoyuk points to
a complex funerary ritual

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in which human bones were dug up,

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circulated among the community,

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painted in bright colors and remarried.

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Catalhoyuk is often referred to

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as the oldest city in the world,

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as it hosted more than
8,000 people at its peak.

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Lasting for from 7,100 to 5,950 BCE,

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the ancient city had modern problems

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such as overcrowding,
interpersonal violence,

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infectious diseases and sanitation issues.

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The recent study led by
anthropologist Marco Milella

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from the University of Bern,

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spotted some variations
in the types of pigments

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used to color the human bones.

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Red ochre was the most common colorant

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and it was found on the bones
of both adults and children.

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Bright red cinnabar was
mainly found on male bones,

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while blue green pigment
was found more on females.

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It sounds morbid, but
some bones were dug up,

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circulated among the
community and later reburied

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according to the researchers.

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Many questions remain such
as why some people's bones

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were painted and others not
and why some bones were dug up

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and reburied elsewhere.

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According to Milella, the
research reveals more about

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how this fascinating
neolithic society thought

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about the relationship between
the living and the dead.

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To read more about this story and others,

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check out gizmodo.com.