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.
Stonehenge (modern U.K., ca. 2750-1500 BCE
prehistoric stone circle made of massive standing stones. It likely served as a ceremonial or astronomical site, with its stones aligned to the solstices. Stonehenge is one of the most iconic and mysterious Neolithic monuments, reflecting advanced engineering and cultural significance.
Nazca geoglyphs (ca. 200 BCE-600 CE)
large ground drawings made by removing the top layer of soil to reveal lighter earth below. These designs include animals, plants, and geometric shapes, visible from above. Their purpose remains debated, but they likely held religious or astronomical significance for the Nazca culture.
Nazca puquios (ca. 200 BCE-600 CE)
ancient underground aqueduct systems in Peru, designed to provide water for irrigation in the arid Nazca region. These spiraling shafts and tunnels tapped into underground water sources, showcasing advanced engineering by the Nazca culture to sustain agriculture in a desert environment.
Jiangzhai Site (ca. 4000s BCE, modern China):
An archaeological site revealing early Neolithic agricultural practices, housing structures, and pottery, reflecting the development of settled communities in the region.materials – wood and thatch, Surrounded by rivers
Amsadong Site (ca. 3000s BCE, modern South Korea): \
reconstructed Pit houses (wattle and daub)
Yaoshan Altar (ca. 3300-2250 BCE, modern China):
Raised grave platforms
rammed earth construction
Menhir Alignments at Carnac (ca. 4500+ BCE, modern France):\
A collection of standing stones arranged in lines, believed to have served ceremonial or astronomical purposes, reflecting the prehistoric cultures of Brittany.
Dolmen near Hwasun (1st millennium BCE, modern South Korea):
A megalithic tomb structure characterized by large flat stones supported by upright stones, used for burial and likely associated with ancestral worship.
Nabta Playa (ca. 7500 BCE, modern Egypt): \
prehistoric archaeological site in southern Egypt, known for its remarkable stone structures, including megalithic circles(calender circles), which suggest early human settlements and potential ritualistic practices in the area.
