Prehistoric Architecture Flashcards
What is Prehistoric Architecture?
Structures built before written history using natural materials like stone, wood, and clay.
What are the key characteristics of Prehistoric Architecture?
Simple, functional, organic, and tied to survival, rituals, and community needs
What materials were commonly used in Prehistoric Architecture?
Stone, wood, clay, reeds, animal bones, and thatch.
What are the three main periods of Prehistoric Architecture?
Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) – Early shelters and cave dwellings.
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) – Transitional huts and tents.
Neolithic (New Stone Age) – Permanent settlements and megalithic structures.
What is the significance of Prehistoric Architecture?
It shows early human ingenuity, adaptation, and the transition to permanent settlements.
Natural rock shelters used by early humans for protection.
Cave Dwellings
Homes carved into rock formations for better protection.
Rock-Cut Shelters
Temporary structures made from wood, bones, and animal hides.
Huts and Tents
A semi-subterranean dwelling built partly below ground for insulation.
Pit House
Raised dwellings built over water or flood-prone areas
Stilt Houses
Large communal homes, often used by early societies.
Longhouses
Large stone structures used for burial, religious, and astronomical purposes.
Megalithic Architecture
Tomb structures made of large stone slabs, often covered with earth.
Dolmens
Tall, upright stones, possibly used for religious or astronomical purposes.
Menhirs
Circular arrangements of megalithic stones, like Stonehenge.
Cromlechs
A large earth-covered tomb, often used for high-status burials.
Tumulus (Burial Mound)
A structure with two vertical stones supporting a horizontal stone on top.
Trilithon
The oldest known temple (~9600 BCE), located in Turkey.
Göbekli Tepe
A circular stone arrangement in England, likely used for rituals and astronomy.
Stonehenge
The largest collection of menhirs, found in France.
Carnac Stones
A passage tomb in Ireland, aligned with the winter solstice.
Newgrange
Some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
Megalithic Temples of Malta
A well-preserved Neolithic village in Scotland.
Skara Brae
Giant stone statues in Chile, with unknown purpose.
the Easter Island Moai
What is Prehistoric Architecture in the Philippines?
Includes Tabon Caves (early human remains) and Banaue Rice Terraces (early engineering).
What is Australian Aboriginal Rock Shelter Architecture?
Natural rock formations used as shelters by Indigenous Australians.
What is the Post & Lintel System?
A structure where two vertical stones support a horizontal stone beam.
What is Corbeling?
A technique where stones are layered slightly inward to create a roof or vault.
What is Earthwork Construction?
The building of large mounds and embankments using soil.
How was Prehistoric Architecture used for Religious & Ritual Purposes?
Many megalithic structures were aligned with astronomical events or used for burials.
What is the significance of Astronomical Alignments in Megalithic Structures?
Some structures, like Stonehenge, were designed to align with the solstices and equinoxes.
How did Prehistoric Architecture reflect Social Organization?
Answer: Larger settlements suggest the development of leadership, community planning, and trade.
How were Defensive & Protective Structures built?
Walls, earthworks, and natural barriers were used to protect settlements.
