Reaction paper1 - prehistoric architecture

From what i understood from the presentations made this week and from what i can remember, prehistoric architecture were basically attempts made by the "early humans" in building structures to defend/protect themselves from natural factors. These natural factors include the weather, predators and even from their human enemies.

The desire to protect themselves from these natural factors resulted in basic constructions such as:

-HUTS

These we're made by hunters as temporary shelters during the Paleolithic period. Wooden posts helped erect these huts while stones pinned down the base of the walls to the ground. These huts always had an oval la

yout.

-BEEHIVE HUTS

these huts we're made during the bronze age. This structure was also used as shelters. The stones were piled in a downward manner, so rainwater

could not seep through and reach the interior.

-TENTS

these tents, also known as "teepees" were made of long wooden sticks/timber which acted as a frame which held a material (animal skin) which acted as the exterior. Rocks pinned down the animal skin to the ground

.

-LEAN TO

These was an arrangement of lumber which was supported on one side by wooden posts which inclined one side of the roof.

Early architecture was not only influenced by the natural factors, but was also influenced by religion. During the neolithic age, also known as the New Stone age, the neolithic people built temples and burial grounds for the purpose of religion.

The structures that were built during

that time were:

-TOMBS

There we're different types of tombs that we're created. Ther

e was the stand alone menhirs, these was just a single slab of st

one implanted to the ground, also known as monoliths. Single slabs of rock were called monoliths, whereas trilliotons (trilliths) were three slabs of stone. Where two of the stones would be upright and one slab of stone would be piled on top lying horizontally. Dolmen were three slabs of stone implanted into the ground while one large rock would sit on top of the three.

There we're also circular arrangements of menhirs which

we're also known as cromlechs.

-TUMULI

These were burial grounds, protected by a mound of soil or stone.

other structures included igloos, hogans and trullos.

It is unsure of how the neolithic people mounted the rocks during the creation of the menhirs, but it is suggested that they used a wooden wheel to help support the weight of the rocks.

I think that prehistoric architecture is important for all of us aspiring architects because we need to understand where the origin of architecture was and how it came about. We need to know the basics of what forms of shelter we can provide for people and we can aslo use these basic structures and "evolve" them into a modern creation. Back then, everything was built not because people wanted to indulge in the luxury of their homes but because of the basic means of survival. Unlike today, where the trend is that, almost all new structures are built to provide enjoyment and comfort to the people.

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