Earth Architecture
The early history of humanity can be reconstructed as an almost limitless quest for earth architecture. The persons who found caves, and later converted them into living spaces, were of enormous significance in the development of human civilization. Would we not still live in the wilderness today if some of our ancestors had not found the cave, restructured it by selectively replacing stones, or had not appreciated the comfortable sheltering aspect of it?
In more recent times, we may look to the irregular holes at the oasis of Siwa in Egypt. Here, underground burial chambers hundreds (if not thousands) of years old that once symbolized ritual respect for the bodies of the dead have now been converted into living spaces. Like the Egyptians, the North American Indians may have evolved the kiva from burial chamber, to ritual space, to living habitat. Deeply rooted in existing ritual is the belief that entry into the kiva is a return to birth. Needless to say, the psychological effects of earth space in ancient times had a great impact on religious life while still providing a sense of security, and positive aesthetics.