PRE-HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE

EVOLUTION OF MAN
 Man has evolved with time. The early man
lead isolated life. He had to struggle for life
and food.

 Three development stages of Man

 1) Man as Hunter(13 Million years ago)
 2)Man in Barbaric Stage(3-4 lakh years ago)
 3)Man into settlement.
 ARCHITECTURE IS CLASSIFIED IN 3 PERIODS

 1)PRE-HISTORY ARCHITECTURE

 2)HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE

 3)COMTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
 PRE-HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
 The term refers to time before people recorded history in writing.

 The period lasted for 400,000 years.

 Due to lack of written documentation pre historic research is

based on Remains,Sediments,Paintings,

 Postscripts - A record consisting of pictorial symbols,

 Petro glyphs –Carving, sculpting or engraving on the surface of
the rocks.
 Pictographs –Paintings or drawings on rocks and inside of the
rock shelters.
 Petro forms –Design, patterns or sculptures made by aligning or
stacking rocks.
 Postscripts

Petro glyphs

Petro forms

Pictographs
 PRE HISTORIC PERIOD

THE STONE AGE THE BRONZE AGE THE IRON AGE

(2500 B.C.-1250 B.C.) (1250 B.C. TO A.D.)
THE PALEOLITHIC AGE
(OLD STONE AGE) 20000 B.C TO 9000 B.
C.
THE MESOLITHIC AGE
(MIDDLE STONE AGE)9000 B.C TO 5000
B.C.
Beginning of agriculture.
THE NEOLITHIC AGE
(NEW STONE AGE)6800 B.C. TO 2500 B.
C.
Invention of metal tools
 STONE AGE
STONE AGE IS CLASSIFIED ON TYPE OF STONES USED

 THE PALEOLITHIC AGE

 (OLD STONE AGE) 20000 B.C TO 9000 B.C.
 Development of stone tools
 Hard living conditions and cruelty of nature
 Life was wild, no knowledge of farming and
rising crops, Man was dependent on his hunting
and fishing abilities.
 No madic life. man moved to different places for
food.
 Stone were used for manufacturing implements
with Sharp edge, a point and percussion surfaces.
 Bone tools were also used, leather,timber,wood
and vegetable fibers used in later times.
 Surviving artifacts of the age are known as
PALEOLITHS.
 Art was produced towards the end of Paleolithic
age, cave wall were painted depicting every day
lives of human beings.
 DWELLINGS Tent or oval huts

Dwellings were in rocky areas.(Partially dig in ground)

Big rocks.
Caves
Under wood shelters

TERRA-AMATA
 Found in Nice, France.
 Built by homo-erectus groups.
 Oldest known fabricated shelters.
 Remains of 21 huts were rebuilt on the same spot
year after year
 Oval in Plan.
 Side walls made of palisade of branches and braced on
outside by a ring of stones.

 Edges were piled rocks.

 At the center were posts. Although the roof had no
terrace.
 Each hut had central hearth.
 These were 8-19 M long and 4-6 M Wide.
 Built on sandy shore line.
 Floor was thick bed of organic ash.
 Fire place was pebbled paved surface or shallow pit.
 These huts were annually rebuilt on same sites by
nomadic hunters who visited terra- Amata in springs.
 MOLODOVA

 Located at Dniester river,

Ukraine.
 Molodova is the name of
village in Ukraine where
these more sophisticated
huts were found.
 They have wooden frame
work.
 Roof covered by animal
skins, held in place by
bones.
 The largest one found is
50’ Diameter and has its
hearth inside. Fifteen
hearths found.
 THE MESOLITHIC AGE
 (MIDDLE STONE AGE)9000 B.C TO 5000 B.C.
 Beginning of agriculture.

 Similar to Paleolithic dwellings

 Carvings used at entrances.
 Some dwellings built for occupation in winters.
 Entrance were bigger.
 Structures were made using wood, limestones and
sand stones.
 Villages were also being arranged systematically.
 Houses were aligned in rows and were more regular
in plan.
 Houses were light wooden constructions.
 LEPENSKI-VIR-YUGOSLAVIA

 Houses were built in rows of 20.

 Trapezoidal in plan, uniform
proportions.5.5 x5.5 m square.
 Wider end contained entrance
facing river.
 Floor are made of hard lime
stone plaster covered by red or
white surfaces.
 Posts used as walls reinforced
with stone from outside.
 Carvings on stone are seen.
 THE NEOLITHIC AGE

 (NEW STONE AGE)6800 B.C. Some examples of houses

TO 2500 B.C.
Invention of metal tools TIMBER FRAMED HOUSES
Nea-nikomedia at north Greece
 Age is marked by progression
of behavioral and cultural Otzaki at Greece
characteristics and changes. Azmak and karnova at Bulgaria
 Structures made of timber and Tiszajeno at Hungary
stone. LONG HOUSES
 Houses were square or Bylany at Czechoslovakia
rectangle. Esloo at Holland
 Single family dwelling units and Vladimirokova at Ukraine
long houses lived in by DRY STONE HOUSE
expanded or multiple family Sakra at Orkrey Scotland
came into existence.
 KHIROKITIA,CYPRUS

 Village having 1000 Houses.

 Stone paved roads.
 Lower walls.
 Locally available limestone
as major material.
 Domed structure of mud
bricks.
 Some had double walls.
 Some had lofts supported
on stone pillars.
 BYLANY-CZECOSLOVAKIA(Example of long house)

 Long houses grouped together

 Rectangular in plan with a constant
width of 6M.
 Heavy oak posts supported mid
wall.
 THREE TYPE OF HOUSES WERE
FOUND
 TRIPATIATE –Having entrance
section central living
 and storage.
 BIPARTIATE-Combined entrance
and living with
 separate storage.
 SINGLE BAY.-No bifurcations for
activities.
 These were the different residential
units of stone age.
 THE PREHISTORIC AGE IN MP
BHIMBETIKA rock shelters

Located in Raisen district. Occupied

10000 years ago.

Discovered by VS Wakankar in
1957-58
Declared world heritage site in 2003.
800 Rock shelters having 500
paintings.

Paintings demonstrate lifestyle and

everyday activities of human beings.
Like birth, burials, dance, religious
rites,hunting sceans,animal fighting.
Paintings of animals like rhinoceros,
tigers,wild buffalos,beras,lions,
elephants,lizards etc.
 BHIMBETIKA rock shelters

 The colors are combination of

manganese,hematite,coal,soft
red stone,plant leaves, natural
dyes from flowers,animal fats.

 Brushes made from plant

fibers.

 Made 20 layers of paintings

one top of another.

 Amazingly survived
thousands of years of adverse
weather conditions. Oldest
dates 12000 years and latest
dates 1000 years.
 Researchers have discovered fossils of one of the
Earth's earliest known multicellular animals—the
550-million-year-old Dickinsonia—on the roof of the
Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh.
 ADAMGARH HILLS

 Situated in hoshangabad near the

Narmada river.
 A Mesolithic site having 18 rock
shelters.11 have visible rock paintings.
 Paintings are simple, less artistic and
without physical proportions.

 Paintings depicts battle sceans,riders on

horses, soldiers with bow and arrows.
 Lack of detailing makes identification
difficult.
 Paintings in red, dark brown and white.
 Other cave shelters are Nagori
caves(Raisen),Ambadevi caves (Satpura
range),Pahargarh caves also known as
likhichhaj.
 NARMADA MANAV SKULL-HATHNORA

Narmada Homo erectus fossilized skull was

discovered in 1982 in the central Narmada
valley in Madhya Pradesh, India.

ESR(Electron spin resonance technique )

adopted.

 Human skeletal remains from the Indian

subcontinent dating from 350,000 years ago.

Dr. Arun Sonakia of the Geological Survey of

India found the fossil from the north bank of
the Narmada river.

This is near the village of Hathnora and some

40 km northeast of Hoshangabad town.
.
 OTHER BUILTFORM AND SPACES OF STONE AGE

 MEGALITHS-
 (In greek,Mega means Big and Lithos means Stone)
 Structures made of rough huge stone blocks, probably
intended for burial rituals.

 Stone age saw three main types of using Megaliths.

 MENHIRS (Long vertical single standing stone)
 DOLMEN (Stone Table)
 CROMLECH (Stones arranged in circles)
BEE HIVE HUTS SHIELINGS
 MENHIRS(Means long stones)

 Menhirs are long stones

standing vertically in the
ground.
 Usually standing in middle
of a field or arranged in rows.
 Average heights is 9 Meters.
 Highest menhirs in Europe ,
20 meters above ground and
4meters under ground.
 MENHIRS

 Some menhirs have natural

texture and color or were
decorated with spiral patterns,
concentric circles, u-shaped and
zigzag patterns.

 Used for worship of sun and

other heavenly elements.

 They were placed in parallel

lines from east to west,
depicting path of sun and god.
Ending in CROMLECH meaning
a circle of stones.
 Used at places of
gatherings and
Ceremonies.
 Designed to specify
special events or to serve
as sun dials.
 In Italy and france,
Menhirs have low relief
of human figures
 DOLMENS(Stone Table)

 Dolmens were built

consisting of two huge
standing stones
supporting a horizontal
giant stone.
 These stones measures
several tons and are laid
one upon other without
mortar.
 Height 1.5 meters.
 Served as grave or as
Altar.
 STONE HENGE

 Stone henge is Britain's greatest

national icon symbolizing
mystery, power and endurance.
 Site present at Salisbury plain
about 145km,south-west of
London.
 Construction started around
3100 B.C. Took 1200 years to
build.
 Composed of a group of stones
(menhirs) arranged in two
concentric circles. The outer one
with 33m in diameter while the
inner with 25m.
 Usually thought as funeral centre,
ancient calendar device to keep
track of solar and lunar cycles
and religious purposes.
It is made in 3 stages
•1st stage(started in
2900 B.C.)-
•Location and area were
marked using 160 long
woven rope and a
leather thong.
•2nd Stage(2900 B.
C-2500 B.C.)-
•a circular trench was
dug and filled with lime
stone chips up to height
of 6 feet.
•3rd stage(2550 B.C.
-1600 B.C)-
•A crescent was made
using sandstone as up
right and blue as lintel.
CONSTRUCTION

•It included a large external

circle of triliths (only in
stone henge the dolmens
are called triliths , literally in
Greek three stones.
•Two internal circles built in
a similar manner.
•In the heart of inner circle
stood a group of stones
arranged in horse shoe
shape.
•altar shaped stone at the
center.
 MATERIALS USED

 About 80 granite stones called

“blue stones”(blue color because of
organic covering on stone)were
brought from preseli mountains in
southwest Wales to stone henge.
Sarsen rocks(rocks of sand stones)
were brought from distance of 40
km north of stone henge.
 Sandstone sarsen rocks were
placed in a circle about 33 meters
in diameter called as sarsen circle.
 Over 30 stones pillars were placed
with lintels (stone beams)above
them forming continuous rings of
sarsen stones. Erected with mortise
and tenon joint.
 Horse shoe shaped structure is also
built from sarsen stones.
 5 pairs of these huge stones hold
the lintels above them.
 During sunrise, the rays of sun
shine for several minutes exactly
into the central axis of horse shoe.
 The round shapes repeated in
stone henge are examples of a
universal references to celestial
events in pre historic architecture.
 It was a type of temple where
rituals were held on the dates of
the longest and shortest days of
the year.
 The relationship between the form
of the structure and the movement
of the sun in sky made it easier for
priests to identify the times when
rituals associated with change of
seasons would be held.
 These dates had special meaning
for primitive man who practiced
agriculture and depended on
climatic conditions for his livings.
 Present condition

 Out of 30 original sarsen

pillars,17 are standing,
bearing 6 lintels.
 Hard to distinguish
between the circles
because some have
fallen out of position.
 Stone henge is Britain's greatest national icon
symbolizing mystery, power and endurance.
 Site present at Salisbury, southern England.
 Construction started around 3100 B.C.
 Took 1200 years to build.
 Composed of a group of stones(menhirs) arranged
in concentric circles. Each stone weighted 4 tons.
 Usually it is astronomical observation or burial
mound.
 MATERIALS USED

 About 80 granite stones called “blue stones”(blue color

because of organic covering on stone)were brought from
preseli mountains in southwest Wales to stone henge.
Sarsen rocks(rocks of sand stones) were brought from
distance of 40 km north of stone henge.
 Sandstone sarsen rocks were placed in a circle about 33
meters in diameter called as sarsen circle.
 Over 30 stones pillars were placed with lintels (stone
beams)above them forming continuous rings of sarsen
stones. Erected with mortise and tenon joint.
 Horse shoe shaped structure is also built from sarsen
stones.
 5 pairs of these huge stones hold the lintels above them.
 During sunrise, the rays of sun shine for several minutes
exactly into the central axis of horse shoe.
 The round shapes repeated in stone henge are examples
of a universal references to celestial events in pre historic
architecture.
 It was a type of temple where rituals were held on the
dates of the longest and shortest days of the year.
 The relationship between the form of the structure and
the movement of the sun in sky made it easier for priests
to identify the times when rituals associated with change
of seasons would be held.
 These dates had special meaning for primitive man who
practiced agriculture and depended on climatic
conditions for his livings.
 Chalcolithic period Prehistoric period
(The Copper Age was originally defined as a transition
between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age)

 Other important sites of

in MP are
 Kayatha (Ujjain)-copper
axe ,cooper cleaver,
terracota remains.
 Eran (sager) – shelters,
copper axe, gold
materials.
 Navadatoli (khangone)-
cottages,brick chulahs,
woodern carts, copper
and stone tools.
 Azadnagar musakhaedi
(Indore)
 THE BRONZE AGE
(2500 B.C.-1250 B.C.)
 This period is marked by use of copper
and its alloy bronze as chief hard
materials.
 Development of pictograms or
ideogramics
 Pictograms are graphics with pictures
resembling physical objects used for
writing.
 Ideograms or Photo-writing-(use of
symbols)
 Small community living with agriculture
and stock raising as chief source of
livelihood.
 Raising domesticated animals including
cattles,sheep,goat,horses and dogs.
Areas close to river were
favorable settlement sites. special
purpose buildings were made.
The same pattern of barbaric
culture continued but in advance
way, because of diversified
production.
More security against wild
animals and inter groups.
Specialization in observance of
nature i.e. science and astronomy.
Specialization in ethics and
civics and law in the elementary
form.
Man innovated ability to smelt
any ore except iron-ore.
 THE IRON AGE (1250 B.C. TO A.D.)

 Ability to smelt all types of ores.

 Widespread use of iron and
steel.
 Development of iron cutting
tools and weapons.
 Period is marked by differing
agriculture practices, religious
beliefs , and artistic styles.
 Earliest text preserved in
manuscripts.
 Sanskrit and Chinese literature
flourished in the age.
 Introduction of alphabetic
characters and consequent
development of writing
language which enabled
literature and historic records.
 This is the last phase of
pre historic societies
preceded by bronze age.
 Rectangular houses using
timber and dry stones.
 Special streets for markets
and workshops were made.
 Use of joinery, carpentry
and sun dried bricks begun.
 Classic iron age dwellings
“Round Houses” built of
timber and thatch.
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