Sheds: From Prehistoric Storage to Personal Sanctuaries

Key Quotes

"The entire building uses the bones of over 60 animals including 51 jaw bones and 64 skulls the pieces fit together like a giant 3d jigsaw puzzle and the structure that emerges is surprisingly sturdy it used to be thought that mammoth huts like this were dwellings but archaeologists are now questioning this assumption there's little evidence of prolonged occupation you see so what were they possibly they were used for storage of course with objects so far back in time it's difficult to be certain about what use they were put to all we can do is take an educated guess the current thinking among archaeologists is that these huts may have been humanity's first sheds"

The narrator explains that early structures built from mammoth bones, previously thought to be dwellings, are now considered by archaeologists to be storage facilities. This interpretation suggests these structures may represent humanity's earliest form of sheds, highlighting their practical use for storing goods.

"whatever use you put it to the defining feature of a shed is that they are an outbuilding of some kind a room outside the house if you like as our opening scene illustrates sheds have been with us for a long time in ancient egypt for example there are pictures and plans of gardens with structures of some kind in them now these were not necessarily classic garden sheds they were more a kind of thing you would find in a pleasure garden pavilions or arbors somewhere to shelter from the fierce Egyptian heat but in our all inclusive definition i think we can count them"

The narrator defines a shed as an outbuilding, a room separate from the main house, and notes that such structures have existed for a long time. The narrator includes ancient Egyptian garden structures, like pavilions and arbors, within this definition, emphasizing their function as shelters.

"despite the widespread devastation here and there one type of building remains standing kura a kura is an external storehouse or a shed if you like some were built out of stone or timber others commonly called earthen kura used a lath and plaster technique finished with tiles more substantial than the paper houses people lived in they were designed to withstand natural disasters such as fire and earthquake"

The narrator describes the Japanese kura, an external storehouse or shed, which survived a devastating earthquake and tsunami. The narrator highlights that these structures, made of stone, timber, or lath and plaster, were more substantial than typical houses and designed to withstand natural disasters.

"many gentlemen in this nation of good rank and high quality are conversant in handiworks moxon wright how pleasant and healthy this their diversion is their minds and bodies find in other words it's a how to book for upper class hobbyists many of whom would have pursued their hobbies in a workshop in the garden"

The narrator discusses Joseph Moxon's "Mechanick Exercises," presenting it as a how-to book for upper-class hobbyists in the 17th century. The narrator explains that many gentlemen engaged in various crafts and pursuits, likely within garden workshops, finding both mental and physical benefits from these activities.

"people bother me i come here to hide from them in fact shaw named his london but if anyone called for him his servants could legitimately say he was in london and therefore he couldn't be disturbed but sheds are first and foremost the preserve of gardeners"

The narrator quotes George Bernard Shaw on his preference for his shed as a place to escape people, even humorously naming it "London" to avoid visitors. The narrator then pivots to state that sheds are primarily associated with gardeners.

"it's august 1994 we're in commerce township michigan in the united states david hahn a 17 year old boy scout is busy in the shed in his mother's backyard ever since his father gave him a chemistry book david has become something of a science geek he lives with his father and stepmother but they have banned him from conducting his scientific experiments at home ever since he blew up some phosphorus in the basement and had to be rushed to hospital so he comes to his mother's house and hides himself away in her shed to get on with his latest project he's hoping it will be enough to earn him a merit badge in the scouts"

The narrator recounts the story of David Hahn, a 17-year-old boy scout who conducted dangerous radioactive experiments in his mother's shed. The narrator explains that Hahn was banned from experimenting at home after a previous incident and used the shed to work on a project for a merit badge.