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Let the Sunshine In: The Issue of Neolithic Longhouse Orientation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2018

Václav Vondrovský
Václav Vondrovský*
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Abstract

This article is focused on the deliberate orientation of longhouses observed within the wide area of the Linear Pottery culture (LBK) and succeeding cultures (post-LBK). Spatial analysis is based on the assemblage of 1546 buildings, whose purpose it was to attempt to cover the whole area of longhouse distribution. Despite variability, which considerably increased over time, the alignment of house entrances towards the south or south-east was observed. The widely accepted theory of house alignment towards the ‘ancestral homeland’ is therefore challenged by a new hypothesis, which sees orientation governed by the celestial path of the sun. Using 3D-modelling of light-and-shadow and solar impact, sun alignment is discussed as an integral element of the longhouse concept already present by the time of its genesis. The tendency of aligning longhouse entrances towards the east, which emerged during the LBK expansion westwards, is considered to be a regionally limited pattern, as no analogical shift was observed in the eastern areas of longhouse distribution.

Cet article concerne l'orientation délibérément choisie des maisons longues disséminées sur une vaste zone occupée par les communautés du Rubané et du post-Rubané (LBK et post-LBK). Notre analyse se base sur un total de 1546 bâtiments dans le but de saisir l'ensemble de l'aire de distribution de ces maisons. Malgré une certaine diversité, qui augmenta sensiblement avec le temps, on observe un alignement des entrées des maisons vers le sud ou le sud-est. Une nouvelle hypothèse, qui contredit la théorie largement acceptée que l'orientation des maisons s'alignait sur une « terre ancestrale », soutient que l'orientation des maisons suivait la trajectoire du soleil dans le ciel. La modélisation tridimensionnelle de l'ombre et de la lumière et de l'exposition au soleil, nous permet de proposer que l'alignement avec le soleil formait partie intégrale du concept de la maison longue et que cette notion existait déjà au moment de sa genèse. Une tendance à orienter les entrées des maisons vers l'est, qui émergea au cours de l'expansion du Rubané vers l'ouest, semble être un développement régional car il n'existe pas d’évolution semblable dans la zone orientale du Rubané. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Dieser Artikel behandelt die absichtliche Orientierung der Langhäuser, die im größeren Verteilungsgebiet der Linearbandkeramischen Kultur (LBK) und späteren Kulturen (post-LBK) vorkommen. Um diesen ganzen Verteilungsraum zu erfassen, hat unsere räumliche Analyse 1546 Bauten betroffen. Trotz Schwankungen in der Orientierung, die mit der Zeit erheblich zunahmen, sind die Eingänge der Häuser in der Regel nach Süden oder Südosten gerichtet. Die weitgehend angenommene Theorie, dass die Hausorientierung sich nach einer „Urheimat” ausrichtete, wird hier infrage gestellt und eine neue Hypothese vorgeschlagen: dass der Sonnenlauf (oder Sonnenstand) die Ausrichtung der Häuser bestimmt. Die dreidimensionale Modellierung von Schatten und Licht sowie von der Bestrahlungsstärke deutet auf die Ausrichtung zur Sonne als integraler Bestandteil des Langhäuserphänomens, und zwar bereits von Beginn an. Die Orientierung der Hauseingänge nach Osten, die sich im Laufe der westlichen Ausdehnung des LBK Kulturraumes entwickelte, wird als regional begrenzte Erscheinung betrachtet, da es keinen analogen Wandel im östlichen Teil des Verteilungsgebietes der der Langhäuser gab. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Keywords

Linear Pottery culturepost-LBKlonghousehouse orientationlight-and-shadow analysissolar impactRubanépost-Rubanémaisons longuesorientation des maisonsanalyse de l'ombre et de la lumièreexposition au soleilLinearbandkeramische Kulturpost-LBK KulturenLanghausHausorientierungSchatten und Licht AnalyseBestrahlungsstärke
Type
Article
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , November 2018 , pp. 528 - 549
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 2018 

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