Prehistoric Humans’ Shelter
Shelters stand for security and stability in people’s lives. They are necessities for comfortable living and have been so ever since prehistoric times. Ideas about what a proper shelter may change but not the value and need for one. Prehistoric humans were nomads, constantly moving in search of food. However, they were also always on the look out for predators, bigger and dangerous animals. Thus, they needed a temporary shelter that was immediately available to them.
The solution for prehistoric societies was to stay in caves. Both the Neanderthal and the Cro-Magnon people lived in caves. Caves were ideal shelters since they were already existing and huge. They could be occupied by a number of people and also effectively protect people. Over time, prehistoric humans learned to cultivate the land and perform agriculture. Due to this acquired stable food source, they were able to stay in just one place.
Being in one place however did not lessen the predators that they encountered. They still needed a shelter that would protect them from these dangerous creatures. The difference was that they can now construct their own permanent shelters and build communities. They needed strong shelters for their safety, and also to keep them comfortable in bad weather or seasons. They used various materials to build their shelters, depending on the weather in their area and what material was available to them.
Thirty huts made out of mammoth bones were discovered in Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine. Some of these houses were said to be 27 500 years old (Elephant Facts and Information Database, 2009). In Turkey, closely packed mud-brick houses were found at a site called Chatal Huyuk (Loizos, 2003). In both cases, prehistoric humans used materials pre-existing in nature but were molded or recycled for their convenience.
References
Cartage. (n. d. ). Pre-historic man. Retrieved February 9, 2009 from http://www. cartage. org. lb/en/themes/Sciences/Lifescience/PhysicalAnthropology/PrehistoricMan/PreHistoricMan/PreHistori%20Man. htm Elephant Facts and Information Database. (2009). Mammoth bone houses. Retrieved February 9, 2009 from http://www. elephant. se/mammoth_bone_houses. php? open=Man%20and%20elephants Loizos, D. I. (2003). The first villages. Humans Prehistory: An exhibition. Retrieved February 9, 2009 from http://users. hol. gr/~dilos/prehis/prerm5. htm
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