02. Neolithic, Megalithic, Geoglyph Flashcards
Granary:
A structure used to store grain, vital for early agricultural societies to preserve surplus food
Neolithic
new stone age, larger groups and staying longer period
Mud brick:
Bricks made from a mixture of mud and straw, dried in the sun, commonly used in Neolithic construction for houses and walls.
Pit house:
A partially underground dwelling, typically with a roof made of wood or thatch, used by early communities for shelter.
Wattle and daub:
A construction method using woven wooden strips (wattle) covered with a sticky material like mud, clay, or dung (daub), forming walls.
Rammed earth:
A technique of building walls by compacting layers of earth or soil within wooden molds to create solid structures.
Megalith:
A large stone used in prehistoric monuments, often erected in specific patterns for ceremonial or religious purposes.
Menhir:
A single standing stone, typically erected as part of a larger prehistoric monument or in isolation for ritual purposes.
Dolmen:
A type of megalithic tomb with large, flat stones laid across upright ones, creating a chamber used for burial.
Calendar circle:
A circular arrangement of stones or wooden posts used by ancient people to track solar or lunar events, often for agricultural or religious purposes (e.g., Stonehenge).
Geoglyph:
Large designs or shapes created on the ground, often by removing soil or rocks, typically visible from above (e.g., the Nazca Lines).
Puquio:
Ancient underground aqueduct systems, primarily found in Peru, used to channel water for irrigation in arid regions.
Çatal Hüyük (modern Turkey, ca. 7500-5000 BCE)
Buildings cubic shape access to the roofs w ladders
HOW THEY BUILT: mud brick - mud + binder - shape it or press it on a molde; drying bricks in the sun (not firing it not enough trees to make fire) Wood framing
Neolithic houses at Banpo (modern China, ca. 4500-3500 BCE
semi-subterranean pit houses with circular or square designs. Built using wattle and daub with thatched roofs, these homes had central hearths for cooking and warmth. Banpo village was protected by a surrounding ditch, and the site shows early evidence of settled agricultural life in the Yangshao culture.
Newgrange Passage Mound (ca. 3200 BCE) in Ireland
large prehistoric burial mound with a long stone passage leading to a central chamber. Famous for its alignment with the winter solstice, sunlight illuminates the inner chamber at sunrise during this time. It’s one of the oldest and most significant Neolithic monuments in Europe, showcasing advanced construction and astronomical knowledge.