Beginnings英国起源(4)

Necessities? Well, at the centre, a hearth,

around which they warmed themselves

and cooked their food.

A stone tank in which to keep live fish bait.

And since we know that some of these houses

had drains underneath them,

they must also, believe it or not,

have had indoor toilets. Luxuries?

Well, the orthopaedically correct stone bed

may not seem particularly luxurious,

but the addition of layers of heather and straw

would certainly have softened the sleeping surface

and would actually have made this bed seem rather snug.

At the centre of it all, though,

was this spectacular dresser

on which our house-proud neolithic villagers

would have set out all of their most precious stuff.

Fine bone and ivory necklaces,

beautifully rolled and carved stone objects,

everything designed to make a grand interior statement.

Given the rudimentary nature of their tools,

it would have taken the villagers countless man-hours

to build not just these domestic dwellings,

but also the great circles of stone

where they would have gathered to worship.