In Anauros, right across from the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos, there is a reconstruction of the Neolithic Houses that were found in Sesklo. Today I've decided to share with you the history of the original ones! (Note: all the pictures show reconstructive replicas).
In Kastraki hill and the surrounding area, near the present village named Sesklo, there was developed one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Greece and Europe, which gave its name to an entire phase of the Neolithic Age in Thessaly. It was inhabited from the beginning of the Neolithic Period (7th millennium BC) to the Middle Bronze Age (2th millennium BC). However, it's experienced its acme in the 6th millennium BC, during the Middle Neolithic Period. Most of the architectural remains that we see today are from that Period.
What is left today from the beginning of the Neolithic Period, when the first signs of permanent establishments appeared in the area, were only some ellipsoid trenches from the bases of the first huts that were constructed by the Neolithic people from branches and clay.
During the Early Neolithic Period, the settlement gradually expanded more extensively. The buildings became quadrilateral and the walls were built with bricks and wood, while in some of them the foundations were made from stone.
However during the Middle Neolithic Period, the houses were constructed with more durable materials, such as stone and clay, and were square shaped or rectangular.
The foundations were made from stone and the walls were built with raw bricks, which were highly insulating. Clay was also being used, as it was in abundance in the surrounding area, and it was combined also with straw and wool from sheep and goats.
The roof was constructed with wood and reeds, and was usually two-sided or four-sided, depending on the size of the house, and was covered externally with layers of clay. On the roof, the Neolithic people also left a hole, so the smoke from the hob had somewhere to escape from. In the end, the whole house was calcined with a thin layer of clay and often the exterior walls were painted with color afterwards.
The foundations were made from stone and the walls were built with raw bricks, which were highly insulating. Clay was also being used, as it was in abundance in the surrounding area, and it was combined also with straw and wool from sheep and goats.
The roof was constructed with wood and reeds, and was usually two-sided or four-sided, depending on the size of the house, and was covered externally with layers of clay. On the roof, the Neolithic people also left a hole, so the smoke from the hob had somewhere to escape from. In the end, the whole house was calcined with a thin layer of clay and often the exterior walls were painted with color afterwards.
In the interior of the original Neolithic houses, we notice preserved hobs, small storage facilities, areas for food preparation and also sleeping areas.
The houses that were reconstructed in front of the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum were from the Middle Neolithic Period. Sadly they were locked, so I couldn't take any photos of the interior. But I have been inside of these houses in the past, and I assure you that these replicas have all the facilities that were described above.
Imagine living at that period! When the humanity was in its earliest ages of development. As you can see, these houses could easily pass for current country houses at some small and undeveloped village, but no! These originally were designed and built so many years ago!
How fascinating history is!
How fascinating history is!
