Blake Thompson

Dr. Watson

History of Architecture

15 September, 2022

Culture and Early Forms of Architecture

The idea of using structures to fulfill human needs and to communicate cultural and

societal values has been developing for thousands of years. Architecture has been evolving since

the domestication of fire, which one could argue is the first form of “architecture” to be created

by man. Our ancestors took fire and turned it into a tool used to shape the landscapes around

them for their benefit. This sculpting of the natural landscape helped early natives hunt large

game for food, as the natural fertilizer that fire created attracted grazing prey.1 For thousands of

years, humans continued to use anthropogenic fire to mend the world around them. Eventually,

mankind would start to use the idea of shaping the landscape to create structures. The earliest

structures were built not only for shelter, but also for rituals and other societal needs. Two styles

of structure in particular, pit houses and pole houses, stood out to be especially successful. While

they are similar in concept and use, pit houses and pole houses originated on opposite sides of

the globe.2 According to author Mark M. Jarzonbek, “The pit house and [pole] house

tradition―lasting over 30,000 years―are the most fundamentally successful examples of

architecture in human history.”3 These ancient structures are great examples of how early

architecture was used to fulfill societal needs and represent cultural values, two ideas that

modern architecture is still influenced by today.

1
James C. Scott, Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States (Yale University Press, 2017), 38.
2
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 117.
3
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 119.
 Pit houses were most commonly found in areas known for colder year-round climates and

harsh winters. They originated in the extreme temperatures of northern Asia, and their design

encouraged a simple and effective way to create insulation within the structure while also

protecting residents from the unforgiving weather outside. Because the base of the pit house was

sunk into the ground, the structures were also especially sturdy for how they were built, keeping

in mind the natural resources and tools the builders had available. This sunkenness kept the

interior of pit houses warmer than the outside air because of the aforementioned natural

insulation. Wooden poles and beams on the interior of the houses helped keep them in place, and

a fire could often be found in the center of the structure. It is obvious that the creation of pit

houses fulfilled societal needs among many communities as the concept lasted for tens of

thousands of years. The simplicity and effectiveness of pit houses as shelter made them the ideal

protective structure. But how did pit houses represent the cultural values of their inhabitants? To

answer this, one might explore the culture and structures of the Haida tribe of the Canadian

Pacific shore. The Haida people used pit houses for shelter, yes, but their calculated placement

calls for further inspection. Haida settlements were almost always arranged linearly along the

coastline, facing the ocean.4 Jarzonbek writes, “As can be expected, [the pit house] was designed

and built in direct relation to the cosmos, which for the Haida is divided into three shamanistic

zones: the sky world, the earth, and the oceanic underworld.”5 Haida pit houses were a way to

live in oneness with all three of these zones; the houses themselves were built into the earth, the

supporting poles pointed toward the sky, and the entrance faced the ocean. During the winter, a

fire would be set not only to keep warm but also to accommodate the ritual of storytelling.

Ritualistic storytelling was a major spiritual aspect of cultures all over the world. Jarzonbek

4
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 171.
5
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 172.
continues, “Winter ceremonies ensured that the harshness of the season would yield the bounties

of spring, and the world would be renewed.”6 The spiritual aspect of the structures also included

carvings and designs on the dwellings that were unique to each inhabitant. It is important to

recognize both the effectiveness and cultural significance of these pit houses in cold climates.

While pit houses were designed especially for harsh winter climates, pole houses were

designed with both warm and cold temperatures in mind. Commonly known as tipis, pole houses

originated in the west and were built by placing large sticks upright against each other to form a

conical shape. Animal hide was then placed around the poles for protection and insulation. Pole

houses often had a fire in the center with a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape. Like in the

case of the pit house, the central fire was used not only for warmth and cooking, but also for

spiritual rituals. The inhabitants of these pole houses also sectioned off areas of the structure for

different purposes. As Jarzonbek describes, “On the interior, there is a central hearth boxed in

with logs and usually with a structure over it to support a kettle. The ‘dirty’ area between the

hearth and the door is used for dogs, cooking, and various household activities. The middle zone,

near the hearth, serves for sleeping. The space farthest from the entrance is considered sacred

and ‘clean’ and is where images of ancestors are kept, as well as valuables.” 7 This sectioning

helps depict the cultural values of the tribes that utilized the pole house concept. These structures

were also built to be portable, as the users needed a structure that was readily able to be

transported in case of attack, harsh weather, lack of resources, etc. To further depict the spiritual

use of the pole house concept, one must inspect the tribes of the Great Plains and their rituals.

The most well-known ritual that pole houses were used for among these tribes was the Sun

Dance. “Though it was practiced differently by several North American Indians, it had the

6
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 119.
7
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 124.
intention of proving the continuity between life and death and between human and animal.

Usually held once a year at the time of the summer solstice, the dance could last from four to

eight days. The events were run by a priest who instructed the participants in building a

preparatory tipi.”8 Like the pit houses of the north, pole houses were used to fulfill both

communal and spiritual needs, along with conveying each tribe’s values.

All in all, these two forms of early architecture were very successful in what they were

designed to accomplish. Pit houses and pole houses, though derived from different parts of the

world, both communicate the values of their users while fulfilling human needs. Both structures

protect their inhabitants from outside threats while serving as a spiritual place to practice rituals.

The designs of both structures are impressively effective for being created so long ago. The

extremely long time period that pit houses and pole houses were utilized goes to show how

constructive they were. The architectural achievements of the pit house and the pole house

convey the values of humanity during the time period, even in different parts of the world.

8
Mark M. Jarzonbek, Architecture of First Societies : A Global Perspective (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), 142.