Prehistory

 Prehistory

Understanding where it all started is critical for learning anything, but especially for interior designers and architects. Historians date it back to the Stone Age, which is better known as the Paleolithic and Neolithic time periods, and into the Bronze Age. These time periods are split up for a multitude of reasons, however, the most obvious being that throughout both Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages, furniture and buildings were predominantly made-up of stone, whereas the Bronze Age introduced bronze as another material to be used.

Paleolithic and Neolithic

Through the discovering of hand axes and what led early humans to creating such a tool, the purpose of beauty was of heavy discussion amongst historians. This led to the realization that, even today, symmetry aids in the development of beauty. Neolithic people, in particular, responded well to symmetry both within humans and objects. On the other hand, Paleolithic people viewed symmetry as a sign of good health.

The comprehension of beauty during this time is important because it connects the dots between what people believed and what they created. For example, the ancients most likely admired beauty within other humans and objects, therefore, trying to portray such a quality to their own craftsmanship. Uncoincidentally, this idea of beauty was shown through symmetry.

Lascaux (Paleolithic)

These Paleolithic caves were not a means of habitation, but most likely a site of ritual activity. With 1,500 engravings and roughly 600 painted animals and signs within the Lascaux caves, the foundational myth explains the beginnings of a particular group of people or natives. It is evident that the people within the engravings represented animals. This was largely due to the fact that animals were of importance to them and played significant roles within their everyday life. This is one of the first examples of a decorative program, more specifically one that brings meaning in a space through decoration.

Stonehenge (Neolithic)

Located in England, Stonehenge is one of the most impressive henges. A henge is defined as a Neolithic monument in a circular form, created with banks, ditches, and upright stones. Stonehenge is considered one of the most important examples of early monumental European architecture due to the fact that it was preceded by earthworks and timber constructions. It relies heavily on post-and-lintel construction, as well as trabeated construction. These systems are still seen today in everyday construction.

The Bronze Age

The time period following Neolithic is called the Bronze Age, which indicates people were no longer constructing buildings or objects out of stone, but began doing it out of metal, like bronze and copper. This was considered “the third phase on the development of material culture among the ancient peoples of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, following the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages” (History of Furniture: A Global View, p. 8).