8.7 Schematic reconstruction of a Palaeolithic dwelling

The basic feature of most Gravettian settlement sites is a settlement unit containing one or more hearths, various kinds of depressions in the terrain, an accumulation of larger objects around the perimeter and a corresponding concentration of artefacts. This type of unit has been interpreted as a dwelling, inside and around which was centred the entire living and working space. 

 

Exhibit type: schematic reconstruction, video mapping - animation

 

The diameter of such a unit tended to be uniform – about 5 metres. Above it, our reconstruction of the hut, made from wooden supports and a covering of animal hides, is derived from the shapes and building techniques tried and tested for thousands of years in the cold, sub-Arctic regions of North America and Asia. Such a structure (teepee, yurt or chum) must have a simple yet strong design, be easy to heat, must be wind-proof and also be ready to withstand the weight of a heavy covering of snow. A large hunting settlement like Dolní Věstonice or Pavlov, for example, would have been made up of several settlement units, although they may not have all existed contemporaneously as a single village.

Reconstruktion of dwelling (drawing P. Dvorský) Reconstruktion of dwelling (drawing P. Dvorský) Saami Family in Laponia (WikipediaCommons) Tent of Saami people (photo: J. Svoboda)