Prehistoric Architecture PDF

HOA 1 | 2024 Ar. Robert Angelo Magaway, UAP 01. What is “Prehistoric Architecture”? 02. Prehistoric Culture & Lifestyle 03. Prehistoric Design & Materials 04. Prehistoric Buildings 05. Prehistoric Monuments The Foundation of Architecture In ancient times, historical events were not recorded or...

HOA 1 | 2024 Ar. Robert Angelo Magaway, UAP 01. What is “Prehistoric Architecture”? 02. Prehistoric Culture & Lifestyle 03. Prehistoric Design & Materials 04. Prehistoric Buildings 05. Prehistoric Monuments The Foundation of Architecture In ancient times, historical events were not recorded or documented in writing. It can be classified into two periods: the Paleolithic Era and the Neolithic Era. The primary evidence of activities during that period lies in impressive architectural wonders that hint at advanced intellect. Due to the absence of a written "narrative" about prehistoric constructions, identifying crucial forms and ideas from that era poses a challenge. While findings from this time were not groundbreaking, they laid the groundwork for architectural principles still in practice today. Paleolithic Era People from this era were nomads who were mostly hunters. Evidence indicates that they predominantly inhabited regions of Eastern Europe and existed approximately 20,000 years ago. Their lifestyle was shaped by their necessity for survival. Due to their nomadic lifestyle, they resided in tents that were easy to assemble. A typical hunter’s hut during the Paleolithic Era https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28592388 Neolithic Era With the onset of settlements in the Neolithic era, architecture evolved into a variety of distinct forms. Significant climate changes in Western Europe led to a warming trend, enabling agriculture and prompting a shift from nomadic to settled lifestyles, fostering community growth. The integration of animals into the workforce due to domestication advanced building techniques and construction methods. With the growth of settlements, cooperation improved construction of robust structures. A typical stone structure during the Neolithic Era https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2685554 The Belief of Animism By the end of this era, nomadic individuals embraced Animism. Animism entails the belief that “all living things have a soul”. This belief stems from the notion that people in the past believed animals were essential for their survival, either as a source of food or for sustenance. Animism is also a concept in the field of religious anthropology that refers to the belief system of indigenous groups before the establishment of organized religions. A Painting Depicting Symbolism Pertaining to Animism https://anthrozine.home.blog/2019/06/11/things-we-wish-we-knew-animism/ The Belief of Pantheism Pantheism is the belief that God exists in the universe and all elements of nature and approximately began during the Neolithic Age. Pantheists worship all gods collectively, viewing God as all- encompassing and everyone as part of God. Pantheists believe in interconnectedness with all living beings, seeing a shared divine essence in the universe and each person, fostering respect for nature and the sacredness of all living entities. Pantheism differs from Animism in that it holds the belief in a single spirit present in all entities, whereas Animism focuses on individual A Painting Depicting Symbolism Pertaining to Pantheism https://pantheism.com/what-the-all-in-pantheism-really-means/ souls. Leather, Bones, Stone, Earth & Wood In the Paleolithic Era, constructing a home required only these five materials. Hunters began by cutting down trees to create the form of the house. They used animal bones, mainly from mammoths, to provide structural support and animal leather for insulation against temperature. A single mammoth could supply 3-4 huts for a nomadic tribe due to its size. The leftover bones were used as fuel for fires by grinding them. A typical mammoth hut interior during the Paleolithic Era https://www.donsmaps.com/mammothcamp.html Complete Stone Structures During prehistoric times, when animals were not available for construction purposes, people typically built structures solely using stone. Above these stone structures, layers of mud and earth would be added to provide protection against the elements. These structures had various functions such as burial mounds, storage houses, and ritual sites. This design can also serve as significant landmarks or as a means of safeguarding the boundaries of communities. An Entrance to an Underground Stone House in West England https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/prehistory/architecture/ Tumulus A Tumulus is an elongated earth mound that houses a burial chamber made of stone or timber inside. Tumulus, among the earliest prehistoric monuments, date back around 6,000 years ago, coinciding with the shift to farming and construction with stone and wood. Identified by a lengthy stone entrance, these structures are frequently what remains intact to this day. At the conclusion of a tumulus lies a burial chamber crowned with a ventilation shaft known as the cairn. Belas Knap in Gloucestershire, England https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/prehistory/architecture/ Stone Circles Stone Circles or Henges are stone structures enclosed to typically act as protective barriers. Stone Circles are believed to have emerged around 5,000 years ago. Typically, these constructions included small, medium, or large stones, requiring a significant communal endeavor to construct. While primarily used as places of worship, they also served as locations for gathering, trading, or feasting. The King’s Men Circle at Rollright Stones, Oxfordshire https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/prehistory/architecture/ Caves Stone age people inhabited naturally formed caves, even though they were not constructed buildings. The caves were inhabited by humans, as evident from the paintings of animals that were a significant part of their daily life. These paintings are prominently featured within the caves. Their images and handprints adorn the walls, capturing moments of their lives within these caves. Lascaux Cave Paintings in Southwestern France https://brewminate.com/prehistoric-architecture/ Temporary Wood Houses Temporary Wood Houses were buildings constructed using wooden poles and branches, covered with grass or animal hides, resembling tent-like structures. These structures were lightweight and simple to assemble and disassemble, making them convenient for nomadic individuals such as hunters-gatherers and early pastoral communities. A Stone Age Wood House in England https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1301837/Found-Britains-oldest-house-10-500-years-old.html Menhir A Menhir is a tall standing stone that can be discovered either alone as a monolith or as part of a cluster of similar stones and are believed to have been used for a religious purpose. In the local language, "Menhir" means "long stone," referring to monolithic stones from 1500-1000 BCE, reaching heights of 16 to 67 feet, raised using human and animal power. Mehirs are commonly arranged in rows in the landscape, possibly serving purposes such as agriculture or demarcating boundaries within the natural scenery. A Menhir Collection in England https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/ales-stenar-gm93111441-10693058?searchscope=image%2Cfilm Dolmen A Dolmen consists of a megalithic structure usually created by placing a large horizontal stone slab on top of two or more upright slabs. The word dolmen, which derives from Breton t(d)aol meaning table and men or min meaning stone The most basic form of a dolmen consists of three stones, creating a structure that encloses a rectangular space. More complex forms made by a succession of triliths led to a gallery tomb called Allée Couverte. Poulnabrone Dolmen https://www.pdphoto.org/ Cromlech A Cromlech is a megalithic structure consisting of a cluster of large stone blocks or dolmens. Cromlechs, constructed during the Neolithic and Bronze Age, were probably utilized as sites for worship and communal gatherings. Many ancient structures aligned with celestial bodies, but construction stopped around 1500 BC, possibly due to migration or new beliefs. The Stonehenge https://wikimapia.org/4418466/Stonehenge-Cromlech