Reflections on the origins of the Neolithic "House" in the Near East

Summary

Large-scale durable architecture appears quite suddenly with the emergence of the semi-sedentary Natufian (ca. 15,000 calBC) in the Near East. Subsequently, during the course of the Natufian, structure sizes diminish; they were commonly semi-subterranean, constructed with wooden posts, stones and puddled mud. These traditions continued during the PPNA (ca. 10,000-8,500 calBC), albeit with the innovation of mud-brick superstructures. An important distinction between the Natufian and the PPNA is the appearance of public architecture, reflecting the dichotomy between residential housing, ‘homes’, and communal structures, hardly recognized during the Natufian. This portrays changes in the social dynamics of communities participating in the processes of Neolithization, culminating in the fully sedentary village societies of the PPNB (ca. 8,500 calBC onward).

Changes were quite rapid, involving the shift to rectangular architecture, assumed to indicate modifications in basic social unit behaviours - the rectangular house is supposed to be the domain of a nuclear-com-extended family as the plan enables additions according to need. Through time the sense of ownership grew, most probably together with hygienic demands accompanying the increasing sedentism. Starting with the Early PPNB there is extensive use of plastered floors and the beginnings of systematic house cleaning and garbage disposal.

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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