What's interesting about the Terra Amata HuTs is that we know exactly what they looked like: TRaCes of HoLes were found, which used to welcome vertical STaKes STaCked side by side to form WaLLs. The stack (TaS in French) is still important today, especially in computing (connoisseurs will know what I’m talking about...).

You can see why « ShaTa » is present in to ConSTRuCT, from STRuo in Latin (to stack, to BuiLD, to aRRanGe, to inVeNT). STRuo is another fine example of the phono-semantic fusion between « ShaTa » and « TaRa », but more importantly, it's a key Latin verb that perfectly embodies the idea of BuNDLing and unBuNDLing that kicked off this video’s theme, and to which I'll be returning at greater length in the next.

From STRuo derive many basic verbs, including ConSTRuo, as well as DeSTRuo (to DeSTRoy), iNSTRuo (to iNSTRuCT), oBSTRuo (to oBSTRuCT), PRaeSTRuo (to pre-construct; remember that for a long time, construction was SeaSoNal, temporary). From STRuo also derive STRuCToR (the constructor), STRuCTuRa (the STRuCTuRe) subSTRuo (to make the FouNDations) and STRuCTe (aDoRNed, with pomp).

To conclude on this foundational HuT, I can't fail to mention ShaBaT in Hebrew, the SeVeNth DaY. Because, of course, ShaBaT is also « ShaTa ». ShaBaT is the memory of the PeRioDic GaTheRing in the CoMMuNal HouSe, the BayiT, « Ba », the BoX (BoîTe in French - with a circumflex accent !), the TeBah, Noah's aRK, the STaBuLum (the STay, the SheLTeR, the STaBLe). But we'll come back in a moment to B, the BeyT of the SoN, the BeyT of the FaTheR, the BeyT of beReʔShyt...

The seventh day mirrors the seventh MoNTh since it’s the day of homecoming, ReST, and FeSTivities. All right, I know what you're going to say: there are 12 months, therefore, to align the weekly rhythm with that of the SeaSoNs, the CyCLe would have to be SiX days long, not seven. But, guys, there aren't 12 months, there are 13. 13.4 to be precise: in the Paleolithic era, time was counted in MooNs, in LuNar months, which are 27 days long. And that's just as well, because seven is also what DiViDes the lunar month into FouR, thus mirroring the DuaL season DiChoToMy.

This exploration of ShaBaT allows me to revisit the connection between seven and SaTieTy from my video on the Era of aBuNDance, with in Hebrew SaBaʕa meaning satiety and SheBaʕ meaning seven, as well as to make an oaTh. How interesting: here is the very same association between the number seven, the concept of satiety and that of the iNSTiTution as in « ShaTa »; as if these concepts had migrated « as one » from « ShaTa » to SheBaʕ in Hebrew, via ShaBaT.

Let's get back to the hut under CoNSTRuCtion. In today's business world, there's a lot of talk of « co-construction », of co-working - even if, as you probably know, CooPeRation is usually very difficult for CoRPorations, especially the big ones.

But the funny thing about « co-construction » is that construction has always been CoLLeCtive. The Latin con-STRuo already features the prefix CoN- (toGeTheR). Just as in Greek the SySTèma, the SySTeM or construction, begins with the prefix SyN- (together also).

Construction has thus always been a collective endeavor. The most beautiful archetypes of collective construction are probably the PyRaMiDs, which, contrary to popular belief, were not built by SLaVes but by a people JoiNed in a CeLeBRatory atmosphere, with an aBuNDance of BReaD and BeeR.

However, there’s no need to go back that far: those of you lucky enough to have attended SCouT CaMPs certainly remember the fun of BuiLDing TaBLes and FuRNiture for the camp, with everyone PiTChing in (even the SLaCKers like me).

Of course, these collective constructions always had a great oPeRations CooRDiNator: the STRaTeGist (from STRaTèGos in Greek), another example of phono-semantic fusion between « ShaTa », the STaKe STaNDing STRaiGhT, and « Ra », the PoWeR. The strategist who coordinates the aRMy (STRaTos), originally not to fight, but to CaRRy out the earth-moving, stake TRiMMing, eReCTing, and aSSeMBLing. The strategist was the bravest, the most valiant and diligent, STReNuus in Latin.

Building a HuT was indeed a CoMMuNal undertaking, a meaning found in STiPo, which means to STuFF and aGGLoMeRate (as seen in my previous video on oakum), as well as to ConSTiTute a CoRTege, to eSCoRT. Imagine, as we move into the Neolithic era, ever larger GRouPs of PeoPLe CRoWDing toGeTheR to PaRTiCiPate in the construction of ever more imposing eDiFiCes.

And this second meaning probably gave STiPuLo, a CoMMiTment, not made with a STiCk, but made in front of the PeoPLe participating in the construction of an edifice. This notion of cortege is also present in the Hebrew ShaTaP (to JoiN, to PaRTiCiPate, to make an aLLy), which combines both « ShaTa »'s CoLLeCtive and iNSTiTutional meanings. In Greek, too, this sense of agglomeration and grouping is present in STaFuLè the BuNCh of GRaPes.

The role of the architect, of the strategist, is key: the purpose is to prevent losing the GRouP’s CoheSion, which could RiSK ToPPLing the edifice. This idea of DiSaSTeR and DiSuNity is found in English in: to STRuGGLe, to WReSTLe. Also in: to BuRST, to BuST, BuSTLe, STRiFe and FiST. In Latin, it's found in STRaGeS: to topple, a FaLL, a disaster, where the edifice CoLLaPSes dismally, with a great uPRoaR, STRePo, in Latin.

In French, we find the same meaning in RouSTe (BeaTing), that you take while JouSTing, from JoSTer in Old French, which means to FiGhT, to struggle, to STRiKe, but also to uNiTe, to GaTheR: another fine example of a Paleolithic inspired contronym. We also find it in the French TaSTer, which originally meant « to strike », before taking on the meaning of TaSTing, and which - please note - could just as easily reflect the semantic field of the FeaST.

In short, the strategist's mission is TRiCky: one must, exclusively with words, coordinate the PRoCeSSion, the MaRCh of the group (STéiQô in Greek, with SToiQos meaning a RanK, a Queue, a LiNe). Why? Because STaKes could be HeaVy, especially in the Neolithic period when they were used to CaRRy HuGe SToNe BLoCks WeiGhing several tons, the famous Standing Stones mentioned in my previous video.

That's why we find « ShaTa » with the meaning of to LoaD, to TRaNSPoRT, for example in BaSTazô (to LiFT, to RaiSe, to PiCk uP), BaSTagè (a transport) and BaSTagma (a BuRDeN), but especially in SaTTô which means to load something heavy, or to PaCk an animal (BâTer in French). Remember the arses who were not thirsty? My stupid and silly Pharisian linguists?

Getting back to SaTTô, this word also took on the meaning of to eQuiP, to aRM soldiers. And éQuiPer is an interesting verb in French for it also has the double meaning of GRouP, TeaM (éQuiPe in French) and eQuiPment, that which is loaded. To equip is STéLLô in Greek, but I'll come back soon to this « false friend » Greek word…