Hutstructuren in Centraal-Italië: De complexe studie van een ‘simpele’ constructie

The term ‘hut’ carries a number of simplistic connotations that have hindered an unbiased study. Huts are generally seen as primitive, isolated and uniform; a highly subjective view largely resulting from our (modern) comparative perception of (elaborate) houses. Archaeologists tend to treat huts as isolated structures as there is often only secondary evidence for spatial relations. The traditional reconstruction of a nuclear family living in a single structure is a textbook example of this. By combining evidence from different settlements in Central Italy and incorporating ethnographic studies, a much more fluid perspective is advocated. Well-excavated huts at Satricum, Fidenae, Ficana and Cures Sabini suggest that facilities were shared and that life was not restricted to a single structure, a view that finds support in ethnographic models.