Prehistoric Architecture (a)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and people, dating methods, sites, and concepts from the lecture notes on prehistoric archaeology.

Modern nation-state

A political unit that emerged in the 19th century; prehistoric cultures in Europe are not tied to today’s nation-states.

Cultural designations for prehistoric sites

Names for prehistoric cultures based on where first evidence was found; not necessarily tied to current geographic names.

Lithic technology

Stone tool technology used by prehistoric peoples to manufacture and utilize tools.

LiDAR

Non-invasive imaging technology (Light Detection and Ranging) used to map landscapes and archaeological sites from above.

Ground-penetrating radar

Geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image subsurface features without excavation.

Terra Amada

Site near Nice, France; among the oldest known settlements; dated to about 400,000 BCE (Lower Paleolithic); associated with Homo heidelbergensis.

Lower Paleolithic

Early phase of the Paleolithic, roughly 3.3 million to 300,000 years ago.

Homo heidelbergensis

An archaic human ancestor in Africa and Europe; ancestral to Neanderthals and modern humans; linked to sites like Terra Amada.

Bruniquel Cave

Cave in southern France where circular arrangements of broken stalagmites were found; dated to about 176,000–180,000 years ago; considered the oldest constructed structure found in a cave.

Stalagmites

Cave mineral formations formed from mineral deposits; in Bruniquel, they were broken and arranged into circles as part of the structure.

Uranium-thorium dating

Radiometric dating method using decay of uranium to thorium in calcite; can date up to ~500,000 years; used to date stalagmites in Bruniquel.

Calcite icing

Calcite deposits that form over older growth, complicating dating by creating newer layers on top of older formations.

Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis)

Archaic humans who inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia; Bruniquel findings raise questions about their activities and cognitive abilities.

Homo sapiens sapiens

Modern humans; their timing of presence in Europe is contrasted with much older sites like Bruniquel.

Francois Rousseau

Archaeologist who authenticated the Bruniquel discovery.

Sophie Veraiden

Belgian geologist who noted regrowth of stalagmites and contributed to dating efforts at Bruniquel.

Jacques Jaubert

Prehistorian who led multidisciplinary investigations into Bruniquel’s structure starting in 2014.

Hai Cheng

Dating expert specializing in uranium-thorium dating who contributed to Bruniquel’s analysis.

Immaterial (symbolic/religious) activities

Cave-based behaviors not tied to sustenance, interpreted as cultural, religious, or symbolic actions.