9,000 Years Ago, Men Moved In With Their Wives — And Women Ruled the Household! 🏠👩‍🌾
New research from the ancient site of Catalhoyuk in southern Turkey is turning everything we thought we knew about Stone Age life upside down. 🤯
Scientists analyzed DNA from 131 people buried beneath houses in this 9,000-year-old settlement — and guess what? The men didn’t bring their wives home; they moved in with their wives’ families! This “matrilocal” lifestyle means family ties ran through the women, not the men.
Even more fascinating: female children were buried with five times more grave goods than boys, showing that girls held a special place in their community.
Catalhoyuk wasn’t just any settlement — it was one of humanity’s first permanent homes, where thousands farmed, made tools, and created stunning art without trading with other cities.
For years, archaeologists thought the famous female figurines found here represented a “Mother Goddess,” but now it looks like they might have been powerful elder women respected by their people.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean Catalhoyuk was a matriarchy, it definitely shows women played a central role — a refreshing reminder that ancient societies weren’t always male-dominated like many of us assume.
If the roles were reversed, everyone would be shouting “patriarchy!” — so let’s open our minds to the incredible power women held thousands of years ago. 🌟
Isn’t history way cooler when it challenges what we thought was true?


