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Light in a Neolithic dwelling: Building 1 at Koutroulou Magoula (Greece)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2015

Constantinos Papadopoulos ,
Yannis Hamilakis  and
Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika
Constantinos Papadopoulos
Affiliation:
An Foras Feasa, Maynooth University, Iontas Building, North Campus, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland (Email: [email protected])
Yannis Hamilakis
Affiliation:
Faculty of Humanities, University of Southampton, Avenue Campus, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BF, UK (Email: [email protected])
Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika
Affiliation:
Honorary Ephor of Antiquities, Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology of Southern Greece, 34B Ardittou Street, 11 636 Athens, Greece (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Light has been considered in various archaeological contexts from the Bronze Age to post-Classical periods, but largely in association with religion and ritual. The importance of light in the daily routines of a Neolithic dwelling is the context for this investigation, which employs 3D computer visualisation to test light levels in a variety of different architectural structures and weather conditions. The results reveal how opportunities for using domestic space for specific tasks changed at particular times of day. Light may have operated not simply in a functional sense but also to divide domestic space and provide a distinction between public and private areas.

Keywords

GreeceNeolithic3D visualisationlightlight simulationlighting analysis
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 89 , Issue 347 , October 2015 , pp. 1034 - 1050
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2015 

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