Notes on Prehistoric Architecture History

Key Quotes from Vitruvius

  • The Architect’s role requires a vast array of knowledge:

    • Education

    • Skill in drawing

    • Geometry expertise

    • Historical knowledge

    • Philosophy

    • Music understanding

    • Some medical knowledge

    • Awareness of legal interpretations

    • Astronomy and celestial theory

Educational Resources

  • A History of Architecture by Sir Banister Fletcher

  • History of Western Architecture by Winand W. Klassen, 1980

  • A Global History of Architecture by Francis D. K. Ching et al., 2011

  • Ancient Egypt by Lionel Casson

  • Art Past, Art Present by Wilkins, Schultz & Linduff, 3rd Ed.

  • Classic Readings in Architecture by Stein/Spreckelmeyer

Prehistoric Architecture: Introduction

  • Earliest known architecture originates from the Upper Paleolithic Age (ca. 40,000 - 7000 BC).

  • Ice Age receding allowed Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon peoples to settle and create structured shelters.

  • Early structures were primarily made from perishable materials, making archaeological evidence scarce.

  • Architectural anthropologists suggest architecture evolved from humanity's need to define spaces in their environment rather than an outright invention.

  • Early camping sites indicated a gradual selection of materials and aesthetic principles.

Evolution of Dwelling Types

  • Primitive Dwellings

    1. Caves - utilized for hunting or fishing

    2. Huts - constructed for agricultural practices

    3. Tents - used by nomadic shepherds

  • Examples of structures include:

    • Cave Dwellings

    • Beehive Huts - Stone huts with corbelled roofs, prevalent in Ireland

    • Hogans - Semi-subterranean shelters from the Navajo Nation

    • Teepee/Tipi - Tents made from animal skins on wooden frameworks

    • Wigwams - Domed structures covered with bark or mats

Classified Remains of Prehistoric Architecture

  • Structures classified as archaeological curiosities rather than having architectural value:

    • Monoliths

    • Dolmens

    • Cromlechs

    • Tumuli (burial mounds)

    • Lake Dwellings

1. Monoliths

  • Large, upright stones also known as menhirs, with notable examples like Carnac in Brittany (63 ft high, 260 tons).

  • Menhir alignments discovered in regions such as Carnac, France (c. 3700 BC) show the early use of megaliths.

2. Dolmens

  • Flat stones supported by upright stones, found in various places including England and Ireland.

    • Example: Near Maidstone, England.

3. Cromlechs

  • Stone circles, often with ceremonial significance, featuring structures like Stonehenge (c. 3100-1500 BC).

  • Reflect agrarian cultures' beliefs about the cyclical nature of life.

    • Notable sites include Stonehenge, showing sophisticated astronomical alignments.

4. Tumuli

  • Burial mounds that likely influenced later architectural forms like the Egyptian pyramids.

  • Example: Newgrange in Ireland (c. 3000 BC) featuring complex passage graves and significant burial features.

5. Lake Dwellings

  • Wooden huts supported on piles found in Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland, protective against attacks.

Timeline of Prehistoric Architecture

  • c. 15,000 BC: Mammoth-bone house in Ukraine

  • c. 6500 BC: Çatal Huyük in Turkey

  • c. 3100 BC: Skara Brae in Scotland

  • c. 3100-1500 BC: Stonehenge in England

  • c. 3000-2500 BC: Newgrange in Ireland

Ongoing Research in Prehistoric Architecture

  • Continuous archaeological discoveries of Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites can enhance understanding of prehistoric cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa.