The geometry and the metric used in the enclosure “Fortín 1” at Copper Age site of Los Millares (Almería, Andalusia)

Geometric architectural pattern and constructive energy analysis at Los Millares Copper Age Settlement (Santa Fé de Mondújar, Almería, Andalusia)

“…Furthermore, the builders of this structure applied a very sophisticated design over a long time period by means of basic geometric figures and their metric parameters, i.e., circles, radii of these circles, ellipses, and straight lines. This tradition may derive from observation of forms, sizes, metric parameters, and derived proportions of the circle that are common in Nature and have considerable operational and aesthetic elegance (Beard, 1973;Esquivel and Navas, 2005;Kappraff, 1991Kappraff, , 2002. The design of ''Fortín 1'', part of the defensive structure of Los Millares, is based on the hexagon, a more sophisticated geometric figure (Esquivel and Navas, 2005).…”

“…Although the design is limited to operations that can be accomplished using rule and compass or two nails, i.e., the basic instruments of elementary geometry (Hardaker, 2001;Kappraff, 1991Kappraff, , 2002, the symmetry concepts are very sophisticated and the use of reliable metric methods indicates the emergence of mathematical thinking in the south of the Iberian Peninsular from the end of IV millennium to II millennium BC (Blackwell, 1984;Brunes, 1967;Esquivel and Navas, 2005;Trigger, 1990). Some simple geometric designs are known from earlier periods in the Mediterranean area, e.g., at Khirokitia, Cyprus (VIIIeV millennium B.C), with structures from the Neolithic period (Wright, 2000).…”

“…Some simple geometric designs are known from earlier periods in the Mediterranean area, e.g., at Khirokitia, Cyprus (VIIIeV millennium B.C), with structures from the Neolithic period (Wright, 2000). The invention or discovery of geometric concepts is based on the circle, which constitutes an important symbol and served as the foundation of countless defensive, domestic and ceremonial structures, originating a type of proportional geometry that is very easy to manage (Esquivel and Navas, 2005;Kappraff, 2002). Circular constructions probably reflect a perception of space that extends outwards from the individual (Bradley, 1998).…”

“…A map including defensive forts is in Esquivel and Navas (2005). between the inner and outer sides of the wall (Student's t-test; t ¼ 2.182, p ¼ 0.042) (Sokal and Rohlf, 1982).…”

“…Architecture is strongly associated with geometry and metric features, concepts that develop a specific perception of world. The most reliable hypothesis points to the circle as the most widespread and multicultural symbol, which served as the foundation of numerous types of structure (defensive, domestic, and ceremonial) and originated a type of proportional geometry that was very easy to implement (Esquivel and Navas, 2005;Hardaker, 2001;Kappraff, 2002).…”