Prehistoric Architecture | The Story of architecture Ep #01

What's up fellas, welcome to the channel. In case you are new here, let me introduce myself. I'm Alfredo and today we're diving into architectural history, so make sure to hit that subscribe button and join the crew. Let's get started. The story of architecture begins in the prehistoric world, where the first humans started to shape their environment, from humble shelters to massive stone monuments. Before the rise of any complex civilizations, our ancestors simply sought shelter, safety and a place to gather. The first form of architecture was cave dwelling. These archaeological sites contain evidence of early human habitation. The Lascaux Caves in France and Atapuerca in Spain are two important prehistoric sites in Europe. While these sites themselves are more known for fossil findings, it directly relates to architecture in the way that early humans adapted natural spaces to create functional shelters. These spaces were not just shelters, but also spaces for community, ritual and creativity. As humans evolved and their tools grew more sophisticated, they began constructing more permanent shelters. This was the dawn of what we know as nomadic architecture. They constructed simple huts made from materials like wood, hides and bones. Using flexible materials that could be easily assembled and dismantled, they were able to transport their refugees. We have to remember they were hunter-gatherer societies, that's why they can stay in one place for so long, simply because they will run out of food. As societies begin to settle into agricultural communities, architecture evolved. One of the greatest achievements of prehistoric architecture was the megalithic structures, some of which still stand today. We can mention Stonehenge, which is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in Europe. It was built in the late Neolithic period. It is believed to have served as a ceremonial center, a place for rituals and community gatherings. These sites demonstrate early human understanding of astronomy, geometry and construction techniques. These massive stone structures were likely built by a community working together, showing all their skills to transport these massive stones from distant locations. In other regions, people built circular stone houses, often referred to as beehive huts, demonstrating the early understanding of load-bearing walls and the importance of forming and creating stable living spaces. We can see this type of construction in Skara Brae, Scotland. These stone-built homes were built into the earth itself, providing isolation and protection from the climate. You can find several examples around the world as well. Ascapadocia, unique rock formations, where inhabitants took advantage of the soft volcanic tuff to carve dwellings and entire cities into the cliffs. Another example is Mesa Verde, Colorado. The way these houses are disposed into the cliffs offer protection from potential invaders. These dwellings, made from sandstone and mortar, were multi-story structures, often built into alcoves in the cliff face. Dwellings in the Korean Peninsula were used as burial tombs. They have like this massive capstone. The tolos or beehive tombs of Mycenae, Greece, built using carving technique, were used for royal burials. Probably the most famous of all of this is the Treasury of Atres, the Neolithic longhouses of Central Europe. Constructed primarily from timber, wattle, dowed, these houses were large and provided space for storage, for farming, and daily activities. There's a lot of examples of prehistoric architecture. The prehistoric era with caves, huts, and megaliths set the stage for the next civilizations that would follow. We can denotate that architecture responds first to the necessity of having a shelter from threatens of the exterior, but we utilize it also as a tool to reflect the human spirit. And that's all for today's video. Thank you so much for joining us on today's journey through the history of architecture. The story has just only begun, so subscribe for not missing out whenever I release new content.