The Neolithic House, from Anatolia to Central Europe

Summary

It is accepted with good reason that the appearance of the Neolithic in Europe results from a phenomenon of diffusion, notably demic, from the Near East and more particularly Anatolia. At first sight, there are considerable differences between the Near Eastern houses, which are often small and stone-built with white plaster floors, and the large wood and and earth houses of Central Europe. In fact a more detailed analysis of the situation in intermediate regions, especially the north-west Anatolian forest and the south-east Balkans (Kovacevo excavations), shows a gradual development, also linked to available building materials. Thus wood and earth construction is well attested in Anatolia (Ilipinar), while stone is used in Greece (Sesklo). This paper will thus examine the respective contribution of environmental constraints and cultural choices, including the social organisation that can be deduced from architecture. Comparisons will be made with other regions of Eurasia at the same period (Russia, Japan, etc).

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• The "Neolithic House": Worldwide Comparisons

Keywords

Spatial Coverage