Chapter 1 Blog: Prehistoric Architecture and Interiors

            In the earliest examples of human history, art and settlement showed up in what we recognize as the Stone Age. It was obvious that the earliest inhabitants made do with existing natural items that, with relatively little modification, met their needs. Caves, for example, were ready-made stone structures that were considered the most basic shelter, protecting its inhabitants from bad weather, dangerous animals, and more. The term Stone Age doesn't mean that people in that time period actually created everything from stone. More than likely, most homes were very semi-permanent, to create two more main types of structures, such as cliff dwellings, and mud and thatch structures.

            In this first chapter, two stone ages are addressed, the Paleolithic and the Neolithic.

The Paleolithic caves at Lascaux from 17,000 B.C.E, are one of the first examples of prehistoric permanent architecture. This network of caves is assumed to be used more for ritual activity, than a site of habitation. In what we know as southwestern France, these caves contain over 6,000 figures and engravings of what seem to be painted animals and signs. It is obvious that people are representing fairly accurate animals in art because of the significant role they play in their lives and nature. 

The Neolithic period can be identified because of the giant stones used to create monuments and architecture. Menhirs are Neolithic monuments made of giant stones lifted upright and made into monuments. Another way to use stones in art and shelter is to pile stones on top of one another. A dolmen uses piles of stones and mud into gaps to create an interior space as a type of “post-and-lintel” construction. Although Neolithic people had other materials on hand, any effort to create artwork with those materials didn’t survive over time.

Residential stones homes use mud and brick to create a small opening for circulation, with a fireplace and hearth in the center of it. 

  Stone continued to be used into 3200-1600 B.C. in England and Scotland to create an impressive henge. A henge is another Neolithic monument of stones arranged in a circular form by post-and-lintel construction for ritual purposes. The construction of Stonehenge: The Mysterious Monument of the British Isles- Beyond the 7 Wonders of the World, resulted in one of the most important examples of early monuments in European architecture. 

The Skara Brae is a small Neolithic village in Scotland around 3100-2500 B.C.E.. These curvilinear houses were built of stone without mortar in a group of 10 structures. The homes were full of prominent built-in furniture, such as stone shelves, hearths, beds, and even cupboards. The Catal Hüyük is a large Middle Eastern Neolithic proto-city site in modern-day Turkey dating to approximately 6700-5650 B.C.. This society was quite advanced with rectilinear houses made of mud brick coated with white plaster and walls painted with red figures of humans, animals, or geometric shapes.

The Neolithic period was then followed by the Bronze Age. This ushered in an era of crafting buildings from objects other than stone, even though it was still abundant. They started making objects out of metal copper and bronze for weapons, jewelry, and other tools. 

Studying the Neolithic time period and others is just one way of recovering human beings' ideas of design. We are blessed to be able to recover some of what they created in the past and understand the earliest years of inspiring and evocative design. It is amazing to even imagine that we could be hardwired in some of the same ways ancient beings were.

Some of my favorite pieces from this prehistoric time period:

Some of my favorite pieces from current applications of these prehistoric principles:

Georgia Guidestones Stone homes built in ruins     Catal Huyuk inspired design