Civilization depends upon more than groups of people living close to abundant resources. They must have food, water and the ability to access these necessities of life. Living in caves may keep the rain off, but it does little to provide people with easy access to the rest of the world. Paths and game trails were just the beginning of man's road to civilization. Building homes, gardens and work areas gave ancient men a way to construct entire communities to fit all of their needs.

There have been many improvements in construction over the centuries. Some of these include the ability to plan and design buildings, roads and communities. New building materials provide stronger support for designs that were impossible just a century ago. While all of these have taken construction out of the Stone Age, basic building techniques would still be recognized by many ancient craftsmen.