A recent study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has shed light on the transition from round houses to square structures during the Neolithic period, a key time in human development. This analysis, which encompasses buildings dating from 15,000 to 8,500 years ago, reveals the ingenuity and architectural variability of the ancient Natufian culture that inhabited the Mediterranean Levant.
Archaeologists have noted that the evolution towards rectangular dwellings was not abrupt. Initially, the Natufian homes, built with reeds and mud, were predominantly circular. However, over time, especially during the pre-pottery period, structures with right angles began to emerge, facilitated by tools such as triangular squares.
One of the main reasons for this change lies in space efficiency. Square houses allowed for better organization of rooms, optimizing the available area. Additionally, their design provided greater structural stability against external factors, which was crucial for increasingly sedentary communities that needed to adapt to a more stable lifestyle.
For more details on the architectural evolution during this era, you can check our coverage on other advancements in archaeology.
