For much of the time of human existence, our ancestors probably followed the general primate pattern of putting together a kind of nest out of branches, grass, and other things each night for sleeping. The idea of a bed (a permanent structure for sleeping) and a bedroom probably didn’t emerge until the beginnings of the Neolithic Age (this is the period in which agriculture becomes dominant) some 10,000 years ago. At the Neolithic site of Skara Brae in Scotland, there is evidence of people making bed frames from stone.
The earliest evidence of a special room for sleeping comes from Mesopotamia at about 3500 BCE. These bedrooms are found only in the palaces, the homes of the upper-class elite.
In the Mesopotamian palaces, and later in the European castles, only the head of the household had a bedroom: all others slept on mattresses on the floor in the dining hall, hallways, and other areas. Over time, the houses of the elite began to have additional bedrooms for special guests.
Mattresses began as straw stuffed into a sack. In addition to straw, mattress might be stuffed with leaves, pine needles, and reeds. It did not take long for this kind of mattress to grow mildew and to nurture bedbugs and other critters (insects as well as mice and rats). Adding garlic to the mattress mix was generally thought to reduce the number of critters.
Shown below are some examples of beds and bedrooms from museum displays.
Skara Brae, Scotland
About 3800 BCE, farming, which included growing grain crops and raising domesticated animals, arrived in Orkney, an archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland. With farming people are able to settle down in permanent villages. One of the early Orcadian farming villages was Skara Brae.
Skara Brae was first established about 3100 BCE and then, after several centuries of occupation and rebuilding, the people abandoned the village about 2500 BCE. Sand then covered the abandoned village, preserving it for modern archaeologists.
Skara Brae well preserved. Evan Hadingham, in his book Circles and Standing Stones: An Illustrated Exploration of Megalith Mysteries of Early Britain reports:
“Within the huts were found many details of domestic life, such as the stone beds on which the farmers and fishermen of the settlement slept, no doubt cushioned by mattresses of heather. The furniture in the houses includes what can only be described as stone ‘dressers’, with cupboards and compartments suggesting the storage of food, clothes or utensils. Stone hearths, together with small watertight basins on the floor, possibly for keeping shellfish or fresh water, are to be seen in most of the rooms.”
With regard to the stone-framed beds, Alistair Moffat, in his book Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History, writes:
“Archaeologists believe that the larger of the stone beds, which always sit to the right, were for men, and the the smaller beds opposite, on the other side of the hearth, were used by women.”
Alistair Moffat also reports:
“The archaeologists at Skara Brae found evidence for canopies and screens of hide around the stone bed-frames which might have afforded some modesty. It is unlikely that nudity offended prehistoric sensibilities, but it may well be that love-making was not something done openly in front of a family audience.”
Crannog, Craiggaunowen Castle, Ireland
This is a reconstruction of a crannog settlement. Crannogs are artificial islands in the middle of lakes. Used from about 1000 BCE to 1600 CE, the crannogs allowed for greater protection from attack.
Craiggaunowen Castle, Ireland
This castle was built in the mid-16th century by John MacSheeda MacNamara. It is an example of a fortified dwelling known as a Tower House. The Tower Houses were commonly occupied by chieftains of Irish families for over three centuries until the collapse of the Old Gaelic Order following the wars of the 17th century.
Museums 201
Museums 201 combines displays from several museum photo tours. More about some of these sites:
Ancient Ireland: Crannogs
Ireland Photo Diary: Dysert O'Dea Castle
Ireland Photo Diary: Craggaunowen Castle
Ireland Photo Diary: Cahir Castle
Ancient Scotland: The Home
Ancient Scotland: Skara Brae (Photo Diary)