After detecting the surprising fractal patterns, Eglash began going to museums and libraries to study aerial photographs from other cultures around the world.
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My assumption was that all indigenous architecture would be more fractal," he said. "My reasoning was that all indigenous architecture tends to be organized from the bottom up." This bottom-up, or self- organized, plan contrasts with a top- down, or hierarchical, plan in which only a few people decide where all the houses will go.
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As it turns out, though, my reasoning was wrong," he said. "For example, if you look at Native American architecture, you do not see fractals. In fact, they're quite rare." Instead, Native American architecture is based on a combination of circular and square symmetry, he said.
Pueblo Bonito, an ancient ruin in northwestern New Mexico built by the
Anasazi people, consists of a big circular shape made of connected squares. This architectural design theme is repeated in American Indian pottery, weaving and even folklore, said Eglash.
When Eglash looked elsewhere in the world, he saw different geometric design themes being used by native cultures. But he found widespread use of fractal geometry only in Africa and southern India, leading him to conclude that fractals weren't a universal design theme.
