Neolithic Architecture

Architecture & Town Planning AE-301

Neolithic Architectural Style

Introduction to Neolithic Architecture

• Architecture of the Neolithic Period• In South-west Asia, it soon appeared after

10000 B.C.

• In Europe, it appeared between 8000 – 7000 B.C.

• In the Middle-East by 8000 B.C.

Introduction to Neolithic Architecture

• Architectural Styles of this era doesn’t vary much.

• Construction Materials varied according to their Availability.

• Building materials consisted of thick timber posts, reeds, clay (hay clay or mud-bricks) and stone for the foundations and the upper structure (walls).

• for roofing, tree trunks, reeds, clay and hay were used.

Introduction to Neolithic Architecture

Introduction to Neolithic Architecture

• Can be distinguished by Two Phases.

1. Paleolithic Phase

• This Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric era distinguished by the development of the first stone tools.

• Also characterized by the use of knapped stone tools, although at the time humans also used wood and bone tools.

Introduction to Neolithic Architecture

• Can be distinguished by Two Phases.

1. Mesolithic Phase

• By the end of the Aurignacian, gradual changes took place in stone industries.

• Small stone tools called Microliths and retouched blade-lets can be found for the first time.

Tools used during Mesolithic Period

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

• Different types of structures of the Neolithic era were uncovered and found.

1. Natural Caves

• Among the first shelters to be used by the prehistoric man was the natural cave.

• The natural caves gave the idea of supporting a roof slab by walls of stones which led to the construction of other types of dwellings.

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

2. Mud-Brick Structures

• Mud-Brick Structures were also found in this style

• Roofs of these buildings were also constructed out of local materials, such as a hard grass or wood.

• Circular, Rectangular and square shaped dwellings were found.

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

3. Megalithic Structures

• Comprised of two Greek words (megas lithos) meaning "great stone."

• Aside from houses, other structures made up of large stones

• Found all over the world

• Famous example: Stone Henge ,UK.

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

4. Stone Circles

• Stones of different kinds are assembled in circles.

• It seems more than likely that prehistoric tombs and stone circles were temples for some kind or kinds of augury,

• even the interpretation of clouds.

• Found in many Areas

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

5. Dolmens

• Dolmens (Bret. dol = table + maen stone)• Dolmen is the name sometimes applied to two or

more upright stones supporting a horizontal slab

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

6. Pile Dwellings

• Neolithic pile dwellings have been excavated

• Consists of Piles supporting wooden or other light materials roofs

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

7. Wattle-and-Daub Dwellings

• Neolithic settlements included wattle-and-daub structures with thatched roofs and floors made of logs covered in clay.

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

8. Sweathouses

• Sweathouses were resorted to as a sauna-treatment for aches and pains

• For a start, the entrance is as little as 75 cms high.

• No easy task to heat up the sweathouse

• Light a fire, maintain it and sweep out the ashes

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

9. Other Famous Examples include

• Catal Hayuk

• 32 acre town located in the south of Turkey known as Catal Huyuk

• Well Preserved homes and structures

• Also contains rectangular buildings with “windows”.

• However, none of the homes have doors, entrance appears to be through roofs.

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

Dwellings & Misc. Structures

• Temple of Tarxien, Malta

• Archaeological complex in Tarxien, Malta

• Date back to approximately 2800 BC.

Habitat

• first farming and stock-rearing settlements were situated in coastal or inland areas, lowlands or hilly, close to water sources (lakes, rivers, streams, springs)

• Majority were open-settlements but cave dwelling also observed

Habitat

1. Density

• Different according to regional characteristics

• For Example, large fertile plains were more densely populated than the semi-mountainous regions and the islands

• the density of the settlements did not remain the same throughout all the Neolithic phases.

• geomorphological changes, such as a rise in the sea level, as well as natural disasters, such as the overflowing of rivers, had a direct impact on settlement density

Habitat

2. Settlements

• During the Early Neolithic, settlements consisted of huts with walls made of posts

• From the Middle Neolithic onwards houses with stone foundations and walls from mud-bricks (unfired bricks from a mixture of clay and hay) were built

• There are indications that two-storey dwellings existed as well

• Several settlements were surrounded by ditches or stone enclosures, whose function is not entirely clear: for defense or to demarcate the limits of the settlement?

Habitat

2. Settlements• Open settlements had usually the form of a low hill,

2-4 meters high, with a diameter of 100-200 meters

Political Organization

• During the early phases of the Neolithic, communities of at least 50-100 individuals were organized with the clan or extended family as the basic unit

• From the Late Neolithic onwards, an increase in the number of settlements and differentiation in their architectural structure and form has been observed

• The number of community members reached 100-300 individuals.

Misc.

Mud and Clay Dwelling

Tarxien Temple

Misc.

Tabon Cave, Phillipine

Mehrgarh Dwellings, Balochistan

Misc.

Sweet Track, England

Nevali Cori, Turkey

Misc.

Ring of Brodgar, Scotland

Skara Brae House, Scotland

Misc.

Pada Lin Caves, Myanmar

Knap of Howar, Scotland