http://open.salon.com/www.transcotland.com

http://open.salon.com/scottish-crannog

There is a housing style that has been used around the world. It consists of a floor that is mounted on stilts which keeps most of the ground bugs, reptiles, and animals out. It is also  a good defense against other humans getting in.

The style is called many names. Grass hut and crannog are two of the most famous. The style of construction can now be said to have existed from 8500 years ago until now. It is still a popular building style in asia. 

Cities were created using this technique. One I think we all know of is Venice. One that is debated is White Horse in the Yukon.

The one that was just uncovered apparently was part of one of those villages. Among the things that make it so exciting is it's age and the fact that the floor is made of planks that were split from logs with wedges and hammers and then hewned smooth which was traditionally done with an adze and was a trade in its' self.   Wow!  Carpentery back then! Now imagine doing this with stone tools. Would you like to chop down a large tree by beating it with a rock? It's not like those axes were as sharp as the ones we are used to.

An 8500 year old boat paddle was among the objects that have been found so far. I've seen dugouts there that are 5000 years old that were found around there. But this is 2500 years before that. Going back 2500 years from here would be 490bce. Something made then tends to set us back much less 8500years. Stonehenge won't be started to be built for another 4000 years which is something like the time distance between Moses and us. WOW!

Here's the article.

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=6009