PARALLEL WORLDS: BARNS AND SCRIBED CIRCLES. SPAB_WINTER 0216_

2003

This thesis provides the first comprehensive study on the character and roles of the prehistoric roundhouse. As well as providing a history of roundhouse studies, the thesis also discusses those methodological and theoretical issues associated with the subject. The research focuses, however, on the analysis of a database holding c. 1200 circular structures — all excavated, published examples in Britain, north of a line from Aberystwyth to the Wash. The data spans the period from the later Neolithic until the end of the Roman Iron Age (c. 2500 BC — AD 500). Main themes addressed include: construction techniques, structural principles, structure function, use of space, house lifespans, maintenance, abandonment, and decay. From these topics come evidence for changes in house design, craft activities, domestic economy, daily routines, subsistence economy, use of landscape, social organisation, and ritual practice. Both regional and chronological trends are identified, allowing a securely based insight into everyday life in Prehistoric Britain, alongside the characterisation of regions and a broader narrative of social change. It is hoped that the thesis will encourage a return to data in prehistoric studies with a move towards an informed social archaeology.

Online Internet Magazine "Boing-Boing" , 2010

For the last 40 years or so, strange patterns have been discovered in wheat or corn fields, primarily in England. Once the initial amazement had passed, the public became sharply divided between those who thought the “crop circles” were hoaxes and those who believed they were produced by a paranormal agency, either cosmic visitors or a manifestation of planetary spirits or “Gaia.” The author proposes a third explanation based on his investigation of the facts.

2002

Cultural marks in the environment imply how the symbolic and real, and the absent and present are linked in our readings of the environment. The relations between these can also be expressed while writing places: while making them present with some mode of showing or telling. Although verbally written places are often considered to be primary, visual marks write places as well. In the interpretation of images, there has been the illusion of truthfulness and transparency. This insight has, however, been challenged while paying attention to the intertextual relations and differing contexts which are needed for texts to signify. This article deals with textual interpretation of the environment, and the current issues of visual culture in cultural geography.

A variety of enigmatic marks on the walls of old houses and other buildings in Australia have now been recognised as having an evil-averting purpose. This article illustrates a number of marks and the sites where they have been found. It also describes the discovery in a Syrian castle that provides a 13th century date for the use of the well-known hexafoil mark.

DAKAM, 2019

What are the power symbols in the architecture of the modern era? U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., Ring of Life in Fushun, Apple Park in Cupertino, Rotunda de la Villette in Paris, Stockholm Public Library, Genbaku Dōmu in Hiroshima, the famous Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) from London... When these buildings are compared to the ancient iconic structures like the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Istanbul's Hagia Sophia an Indian tipi or the rural dwellings in Cameroon like Matakam houses we see a meaningful connection. Intentionally by mentioning the locations of the buildings I wanted to stress the fact that all the structures belong to various cultures from various regions. Despite their differences in time and place, there is a dramatic similarity among the edifices, which make them the symbols of power. All the aforesaid instances show similar architectural characteristics like having the idea of physically arising, constituting centrality, creating a powerful look in the cityscape-nearly all examples are landmarks, gathering and uniting people. Those listed features are the end products of a simple generic geometric form: the circle. Even though these powerful, iconic structures have a lot in common-constituting a circular form and having a centrality, they differ in an important point, which is the meaning they manifest. It is obvious that today's iconic buildings, having a similar circular and/or spherical morphology, do not demonstrate the same worldview as the historical ones. In other words, the use of circular geometry that used to set a ground for sacred spatial organizations has continued to be used in following profane edifices signifying new codes. What is so powerful and attractive about the circle that intuitively or consciously pushes people to use this symbol to transfer or adapt meaning from the ancient times up until now? This paper aims to focus on the archetypal meaning and the prevailing importance of the circular form in architecture, concerning Nietzsche's key concept "will to power". Religious monism and creation myths will be discussed in relation to the primordial symbol; circle to point out its spiritual character. The relation of monad-the first, the essence-and the circle will be explained elaborately. Then, the circle will be discussed from a philosophical monistic point of view to establish a link to power. Throughout history, the idea of power has never changed about the circle symbol, but what has changed is the characteristic of power. From sacred to profane, the meaning of circle has evolved due to the tendencies of the age and intentions of people. The relation between the "circle" and "power" will be demonstrated through the selected examples from architectural history.