«PREHISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING» - A NEW RESEARCH DIRECTION IN HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCE

Abstract

In the scholarly research area of "Theory and History of Architecture, Restoration and Reconstruction of Architectural Heritage", one often comes across understatements and controversial statements regarding the fundamental principles of architecture, especially when it comes to research into regional specifics. In general, architectural science has covered but poorly prehistoric architecture issues, which calls for developing a new avenue of research into “Architecture and Urban Planning Prehistory” as a vast layer of architectural and archaeological monuments using a complex methodology based on a morphological approach. Given the theme thus formulated, the new avenue of research could evolve out of the specifics of studying the architectural and archaeological complexes and ancient settlement systems in the Southern Urals during the Bronze Age, thus contributing to the conservation of this heritage. The new research direction could enhance architectural science by studies on prehistoric architectural structures and complexes, fitting logically into the concept of taxonometric approach to architecture as a reflection of the spiritual realm in a region’s historical environment (according to G.V. Esaulov) and enabling one to explore the foundations of architecture at the 2nd level (layer), i.e. the entire "protoarchitecture" and the origins of urban planning culture.

Keywords

• prehistory of architecture and town-planning
• protoarchitecture
• taxonometric approach
• architectural and archaeological monument