Anth.340 Ppt. lecture-13: Late Bronze Age Canaan, part-2: Chronology; settlement patterns & occupation sequence; fortifications & de-fortification; town planning (palaces; housing;

ANT 340 / 640:

The Archaeology and History of the “Bible Lands”:

Ancient (Syria)-Palestine.Notes and images compiled by Gregory Mumford © 2020

Lecture 13:

Late Bronze Age (Part-1b).

Table of contents:

1. Chronology and inner divisions of Late Bronze Age 4

2. Late Bronze Age Settlement patterns 6

3. Late Bronze Age occupation history at sites 13

4. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Fortifications 18

5. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Town planning 24

6. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Palaces 27

7. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Elite homes 37

8. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Migdol temples 43

9. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Other temples 75

10. Late Bronze Age urban layout: Extramural temples 92

11. Late Bronze Age: How temples worked/functioned 104

12. Summary of points 106

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Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA

LB Age IA-IIB & Iron IA

(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Chronology:

Inner divisions …

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Inner division and terminology:

•Like the MB Age, the Late Bronze Age

has been subdivided differently:

W.F. Albright: C.F.A. Schaeffer: Dyn.

LB 1A 1550-1470 BC LB I 1600/1550-1450 BC Dyn.18

LB 1B 1470-1400 BC LB II 1450-1350 BC Dyn.18

LB IIA 1400-1300 BC LB III 1350 - Dyn.18

LB IIB 1300-1200 BC LB III - 1200 BC Dyn.19

• LB 1A = Ahmose → Thutmose III

Early empire

• LB 1B = Thutmose III → Thutmose IV

Main campaigns

• LB 2A = Amenhotep III → Horemheb

Amarna period peak-decline

• LB 2B = Ramesses I → Qn. Tawosret

Ramesside intensification

• Iron 1A= Setnakhte → Ramesses VI

Sea Peoples & decline.

• However, there = also much continuity

in Canaanite material culture.

Chron.: = a reminder re: last lecture …

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Settlement

patterns:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:

• Both the overall number of people,

and the relative density of sites,

declined from the MB Age to LB Age.

a. The desert fringe regions are

basically “abandoned:” de-urbanized

b. Some major MB IIB-C cities are also

abandoned, or continue partially:

i. Beer Sheba Valley

ii. Central Hill country

iii.Jordan Valley

c. Some major MB Age cities, such as

Tell el-‘Ajjul and Tel Nagila become

small outposts, or are abandoned.

d. Var. cities in the central & northern

plains become impoverished sites:

E.g., Kabri, Aphek, Tel Gerisa, Dan,

and Shechem.

• Some are converted into Egy. forts.

Tell el-‘Ajjul

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:

• In the LB Age, rural settlements also

decline sharply:

E.g., Many small MB Age agricultural

communities are abandoned in the hills

of Samaria & Ephriam.

• In contrast, there appears to be an

increase in semi-nomadic +nomadic

populations. … de-urbanized(?)

• R. Gonen’s demographic study has

concluded that the LB I period in

particular experiences a severe drop

in settlements (may = insufficient data),

with a relative revival in LB IIA-B.

• Of note, the overall population decline

is more evident in certain areas versus

other regions:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:

• Various major MB Age sites do survive

in the Late Bronze Age:

a. Lachish

b. Ashdod (founded in late MB IIB-C)

c. Gezer

d. Megiddo

e. Beth-Shean

f. Hazor

• Hazor retained its status as the largest

urban centre in Palestine: 200 acres.

• Other sites attracted intense LB Age

settlement in the coastal plains, the

Shephelah, and the Jezreel and

Beth-Shean valleys.

• The continuation of maritime trade

encouraged the growth of ports:

Tell Abu Hawam, Shiqmona, Tell Nami,

Tel Michal, and Tel Mor.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:



a. Lachish


c. Gezer

d. Megiddo

e. Beth-Shean

f. Hazor






Beth-Shean valleys.





LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:



a. Lachish


c. Gezer

d. Megiddo

e. Beth-Shean

f. Hazor






Beth-Shean valleys.





LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Settlement pattern:

• More arable portions of Transjordan

have yielded LB Age sites along:

a. The central Jordan Valley

b. The “King’s Highway”

• Virtually no LB Age sites appear south

of Madeba Plain, which lies east of

the northern end of the Dead Sea.

• Likewise, the region west of the Jordan

lacks settlements to the south of the

Hebron Hills.

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Occupation

history at sites:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Occupation history of LB Age sites:

• The sub-division of the LB Age into

at least three stages is supported by

the existence of three major phases

of occupation at many key sites:

- Hazor

- Megiddo

- Beth-Shean

- Gezer

- Lachish (Fosse temple)

- Shechem

- Tel Mevorakh

- Jaffa

- Tel Sera‘ (Tell esh-Shari‘a)

- Tel Halif

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• Other settlements have produced more

than three LB Age occupation phases:

- Tel Batash (Timnah): 5 occ.-phases:

First four yield destructions by fire,

ca.1550-1300 BC

- Ports experience major changes:

Tell Abu Hawam: Str.V = subphases

Shiqmona: 6 occupation strata

Tel Mor: 5 occupation strata

• Other sites have yielded less than 3

LB Age occupation phases, namely

containing more continuity (longevity):

- Tell Beit Mirsim: Stratum C

- Beth-Shemesh: Stratum IV 2 subphases

• Some earlier excavations failed to

discern sub-phases in the broader

architectural matrix of a given city.

• Strata →ability to create typologies!

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• The absolute dating of settlement

destructions is quite problematic/tricky

-Some destructions represent fighting

between city-states (left to fight with

each other by Egy. administration)

-Other destructions may be assigned

to Habiru raids or other semi-nomadic

tribes (e.g., Shasu).

-Some destructions = also retribution

by Egypt: e.g., Thutmose III, etc.

• Hence, correlating the destructions &

new architectural phases is quite hard,

especially since they often represent

different points during the Late Bronze

Broad trends:

• Many towns = destroyed in 14th cent

• Settlements decline in the 13th cent.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• Another problem =gauging the period

of time between a destruction and a

re-building.

- Does rebuilding begin immediately?

- Is there a gap / hiatus in occupation?

• A gap may occur after the late LB I

destructions at - Tell Beit Mirsim

- Jericho

- Shechem

• BUT, an occupation gap is often

suggested by an absence in particular

pottery types, which may represent

limited excavation, or the nature of the

exposed area, versus reality.

• Hence,any “clear cut” presentations of

archaeological data can usually be

assumed to be over-simplifications!

• The real world is seldom so simple.

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

FORTIFICATIONS:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Town planning & architecture:

Fortifications:

• Virtually all excavated LB Age sites

in Palestine LACK fortifications in

sharp contrast to preceding MB Age.

• Some settlements may have retained

upper walls on the MB Age ramparts,

which still lay around their settlements.

• A few sites reveal rebuilding of their

walling systems after destructions at

the beginning of LB 1 (ca.1550 BC):

• E.g., Hazor retains its prominence &

rebuilds its wall throughout the LB Age

• Megiddo kept its double-chambered

gateway, but lost its adjoining wall.

-The palace north wall served as a

partial wall beside the gate (T-III siege)

-The gate became more ceremonial.

Megiddo gateway & palace wall

Shechem

Hazor Stratum 2, LB 1 gate

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


Fortifications:

• Virtually all excavated LB Age sites in

Palestine lack fortifications in sharp

contrast to the preceding MB Age.

• Some settlements may have retained

upper walls on the MB Age ramparts,

which still lay around their settlements.

• A few sites reveal rebuilding of their

walling systems after destructions at

the beginning of LB 1 (ca.1550 BC):

• E.g., Hazor retains its prominence &

rebuilds its wall throughout the LB Age

• Megiddo kept its double-chambered

gateway, but lost its adjoining wall.

-The palace north wall served as a

partial wall beside the gate (T-III siege)

-The gate became more ceremonial.

E.g., MB Age II:

Tell Dan’s gate

E.g., MB Age II:

Tell Dan’s gate

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Fortifications:

• Both Lachish & Tel Batash definitely

lack city walls throughout the LB Age.

• Large buildings were placed along

the mound edges, possibly serving as

pseudo walls, or features that provided

limited defence against raiding Habiru.

• The inhabitants at Tel Batash placed

wall sections and drainage holes in the

streets between these mound-edge

buildings, making a makeshift defence

• Gezer’s massive exterior wall = hotly

debated as dating either to the LB Age

or the succeeding Iron Age.

• 14th–13th cent BC fortifications occur at

Ashdod, T.Abu Hawam, T.Beit Mirsim.

• The apparent de-fortification is best

explained via Egyptian imperial policy.

Tell ed-Duweir = Ancient Lachish

Tell Batash

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Fortifications:

















explained via Egyptian imperial policy.

Tell Batash

Gezer

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Fortifications:

















explained via Egyptian imperial ‘policy’Plain of Philistia: Ashdod

Tell Beit MirsimTell Abu Hawam

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

TOWN PLANNING:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


Town planning:

• As in the MB Age,LB Age settlements

yield insufficient exposure to assess

town planning at any one site.

• However, the major N. settlements of

Hazor and Megiddo appear to have

retained or followed the main existing

layout founded in MB Age levels.

• In essence, only details change within

individual buildings and complexes,

whilst the street layout and major

structural walls remain in place.

• In contrast, Southern settlements

were largely destroyed and experience

a period of abandonment or major

alterations in their layout.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Town planning:

• Some towns kept their orthogonal

layout, whilst others introduced an

irregular pattern of alleys, streets, and

thoroughfares.

•The larger settlements appear to have

distinct quarters with associated cult

centres: E.g., Hazor and Ugarit.

• In Syria and Palestine, temples and

palaces now become physically

separated, with palaces tending to

be near their city gates:

- Alalakh MB palace → gate

- Megiddo MB palace → gate

- Lachish MB palace → a temple

- Hazor MB Temple-A → disuse

MB temple-H continues

Megiddo Stratum VIII: 1400-1300 BC

Megiddo Stratum VIIB: 1300-1200 BC

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

PALACES:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


Palaces:

• Megiddo illustrates the evolution of a

“typical” Canaanite palace from 1550

to 1150 BC (Strata X-VIIA):

a. Strata X-IX square building with a

courtyard surrounded by chambers.

b. Strat. VIII palace → 50 x 33+ m:

- Central courtyard

- W-reception halls divided by pillars

- Adjacent bathroom to South

- Eastern living quarters

- Probable stairway to upper floor

c. Strat. VIIB palace renovated: W.hall

d. Strat. VIIA palace 3-roomed annex

= chapel/shrine with ivories.

Megiddo Str.VIII

palace

Megiddo Str.VIIB

palace

Hazor: MB-LB Age upper town (citadel):

Plan of part of the palace and an affiliated

“palace temple” in Area H …

Hazor: MB-LB Age upper town (citadel):

Reconstruction of “palace temple” in Area Hhttps://archaeologyillustrated.com/collections/hatzorhazor-the-late-bronze-age-temple-palace-on-the-acropolis/

https://archaeologyillustrated.com/collections/hatzorhazor-the-late-bronze-age-temple-palace-on-the-acropolis/

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Palaces:

• Ugarit palace = similar to Megiddo:

- Spanned 5,000 sq. m. (71 x 71 m)

- It contains multiple modules, each of

which resembled Megiddo palace.

- Hence, the courtyard and associated

suite complex appear in varying

numbers according to the rank and

means of each city-state ruler.

Ras Shamra: Ugarit.

Port city under Hittite domination in LB 2B (Dyn.19)

Ca.1300-1200 BC

Hittite

seal

Middle Bronze Age QATNA:

• The settlement at Qatna has

large palace complexes from

the Middle – Late Bronze Age,

including “The Eastern Palace”

which begins in the MB Age.

LB I palace wall paintings at Qatna: Presumably with MB Age precursors like elsewhere

LB I palace wall paintings at Qatna: Presumably with MB Age precursors like elsewhere

MB – LB Age Qatna:• Royal tomb complexes are fairly

common in the large palaces in

the Near East, including at Qatna.

• This example dates to the LB I,

(see the in-class documentary on

Egypt’s Lost Rival –Qatna),

but presumably had Middle Bronze

Age precursors in the MB palace.

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

ELITE HOMES:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


Elite domestic architecture:

• LB Age settlements also contain elite

dwellings smaller than nearby palaces:

E.g., Megiddo:

- A central courtyard with surrounding

rooms and halls.

- Such elite houses probably served

the town’s nobility (= maryannu).

E.g., Taanach West Building:

- 18 x 21 m building

- Courtyard at one corner


- 9 square rooms

E.g., Aphek (13th cent. BC):


- Several rooms and halls

- Archive reveals = Egy. administration

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC



• LB Age settlements also contain elite

dwellings smaller than nearby palaces:

E.g., Megiddo

- A central courtyard with surrounding

rooms and halls.

- Such elite houses probably served

the town’s nobility (maryannu).

E.g., Taanach West Building:


- Courtyard at one corner


- 9 square rooms

E.g., Aphek (13th cent. BC):


- Several rooms and halls

- Archive reveals = Egy. administration

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


E.g., Tel Batash (Strata IX-VII):

- Several large, rectilinear houses with

Pillared halls

Storage rooms (magazines)

Staircase to upper floor (living area)

(E.g., two rows of wooden pillars)

• Other smaller Canaanite housing:

- Display a central courtyard as their

focal feature,

- Multiple rooms placed on several

sides of the courtyard.

- Many variant arrangements without

a set plan.

- Such houses appear in the MB Age,

and continue into Iron Age.

Megiddo stratum VIIB

Dyn.18: Amarna 1347-1336 BC

https://youtu.be/00NH6hrbn3M

\

Egyptian governors’ residencies in Canaan

https://youtu.be/00NH6hrbn3M

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

MIGDOL TEMPLES

MB Age temples:

• E.g., Hazor’s Migdol-type

“tower temple” in settlement.

Hazor Area A Migdol-temple: LB 1 1550-1400 BC

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

LB Age Tower-Temples:

• LB Age temples display a wide

range of forms at many sites:

• Some temples continue from the MB,

being rebuilt and refurbished:

E.g., Hazor Area H Temple

E.g., Megiddo Temple

Hazor Area H Tower-temple (LB 1-2B):

XV: The front courtyard received an

altar and an ornate entryway.

XIV: Total rebuilding after destruction:

Retained the foundational outline.

Added outer entry hall to building.

Basalt orthostats along inner walls

Two couchant lions flank doorway

Basalt altar has spoked wheel:

= Anatolian/N. Syrian symbol for

the deity Hadad / Baal (MB+)

Basalt statue of deity on a bull.

→ Temple appears dedicated to Baal.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• LB Age temples display a wide range

of forms at many sites:





Hazor Area H Tower-temple (LB 1):













Strat.-2

LB 1B

Strat.-1B

LB 2A

Strat.-1A

LB 2B

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• LB Age temples display a wide range

of forms at many sites:





Hazor Area H Tower-temple (LB 1-2):













Hazor Area H Strat.2 Migdol-temple: = LB 1B: ca.1470 – 1400 BC

Hazor Area H Stratum 2

Migdol-temple:

LB 1B: ca.1470 – 1400 BC


Migdol-temple:

LB 1B: ca.1470 – 1400 BC- Cultic incense stands, offering bowls,

and liver model (inscribed in cuneiform)


Migdol-temple:

LB 1B: ca.1470 – 1400 BC

Votive offerings from

Stratum 2 migdol-temple

at Hazor (Area H):

Bronze sheet figures

Hazor Area H Stratum 1B

Migdol-temple: LB 2A: ca.1400–1300 BC




Migdol-temple: LB 2A:

ca.1400–1300 BC

Basalt lion orthostat:

Guardian figure at entryway

Hazor: Area H Strat.1B Migdol-temple: LB 2A: c.1400–1300 BC



Hazor Area H Stratum 1A

Migdol-temple: LB 2B: ca.1300–1200 BC

Lion orthostat buried in pit → stratum 1B

Door socket

Hazor Area H Stratum 1A

Migdol-temple: LB 2B: ca.1300–1200 BC

Hazor: Area H Migdol-temple. Basalt altar with disk symbol of Hadad (= Baal)

Hazor: Area H Migdol-temple.

Stratum 1A LB 2B: 1300-1200 BC

Basalt altar with disk symbol of Hadad

and basalt cultic figures, one of which

also has a disk-symbol of Hadad

i.e., = Baal cult (the storm god)

Hazor: Area H Migdol-temple. Stratum 1A = LB 2B: ca.1300 – 1200 BC

Terra cotta shrine

for a cult figure

The Bull?

Hazor: Area H Migdol-temple. Stratum 1A = LB 2B: ca.1300 – 1200 BC

Bronze bull figurine from sanctuary = symbol of Baal (virility/fertility aspect)


Stratum 1A = LB 2B ca.1300-1200 BC

Basalt cultic seated-figure with head broken-off

Hazor:

Area H Migdol-temple.

Strat. 1A LB 2B 1300-1200

Basalt cultic seated-figure

with head broken-off

Hazor:

Area H

Migdol-temple.

Strat. 1A

LB 2B

1300-1200 BC

Basalt cultic

basins and

trays.


Stratum 1A: LB 2B 1300-1200

Basalt bowls & libation containers


Stratum 1A: LB 2B 1300-1200

Mycenaean bull/cow-figurine

Hazor: Area H

Migdol-temple.

Stratum 1A:

LB 2B 1300-1200

Votive offerings of beads

& seals (i.e., jewellery)

Hazor: Area H Migdol-temple. Strat.1A: LB 2B 1300-1200

Syro-Mesopotamian style cylinder seals

Hazor:

Area H

Migdol-temple.

Strat.1A:

LB 2B 1300-1200

Syro-Mesootamian

-style cylinder seals

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• Despite various temple designs in LB

Levant, the widespread occurrence

of related temple types argues for

overall cultural homogeneity:

E.g., Hazor & Alalakh Tower-temples

- Both resemble each other closely in

structure, decoration, & furnishings,

even with dramatic alterations over

time.

Alalakh strata IV & I temples also

have lion orthostats

have a basalt altar

have a similar main hall

Megiddo tower temple lasts 500 yrs:

Two ashlar towers

Sanctuary changes

Enclosure built with

surrounding rooms.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

LB Age Tower Temples:

Shechem LB Age temple:

- New temple built over MB Age ruins

- Temple-2 = 12.5 x 16 m (broad room)

(similar to Hazor, Alalalkh, Ugarit)

- Altar placed & large standing stone

(massebah) placed in courtyard.

- Suggested identifications:

a.“Great stone at Shechem” (Joshua 24:26-7)

b. Temple of El-Berith (“god of the Covenant”)

c. “The tower of Shechem” (Judges 9:46-49)

• The typical LB Age Canaanite temple

thus displayed:

- A large symmetrically planned building

- A front entry porch → main hall.

- A virtually square main hall (usually)

- A main hall with a sanctuary

Shechem: MB 2B-C temple: re-built in LB

LB Age thinner walled temple above

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

LB Age Tower Temples:

Shechem LB Age temple:

- New temple built over MB Age ruins

- Temple-2 = 12.5 x 16 m (broad room)

(similar to Hazor, Alalakh, Ugarit)

- Altar placed & large standing stone

(massebah) placed in courtyard.

- Suggested identifications:

a.“Great stone at Shechem” (Joshua 24:26-7)

b. Temple of El-Berith (“god of the Covenant”)

c. “The tower of Shechem” (Judges 9:46-49)

• Typical LB Age Canaanite temples

thus displayed:

- A large symmetrically planned building

- A front entry porch → main hall.

- A virtually square main hall (usually)

- A main hall with a sanctuary

LB Age thinner walled temple above

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layout

OTHER TEMPLES:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Variant LB Age Temples:

(A). Egypto-Canaanite temples:

Beth-Shean: 1300-1200 BC.

• Indirect approach into Str.VII temple

• Square plan: 14.2 x 14.8 m.

• Main hall with benches along walls

two pillars

Altar for offerings

• Steps leading to sanctuary

• Side chamber (treasury; equipment)


• Str.VI temple rebuilt with some

Egyptian architectural elements:

- Stone friezes

- Papyrus capitals (reused?)

Egy.-style temple at Lachish & Beth-Shan

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Variant LB Age Temples:

(A). Egypto-Canaanite temple:


• Indirect approach into Str.VII temple

• Square plan: 14.2 x 14.8 m.

• Main hall with benches along walls

two pillars

Altar for offerings

• Steps leading to sanctuary

• Side chamber (treasury; equipment)


• Str.VI temple rebuilt with some

Egyptian architectural elements:

- Stone friezes

- Papyrus capitals (reused?)

Egyptian stela at Beth-Shean: god Mekal

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Egypto-Canaanite temple:

Lachish Temple (Area P): 1300-1200.

• Similar to Beth-Shean temple.

• But has a direct entryway (axial appr.)

• Main hall with 2 Egyptian-style pillars

- Papyrus capitals & dec. fluted shafts.

- Walls plastered & painted in black,

white, red, yellow, and blue.

- Roofing beams in cedar (Lebanon)

Cross-cultural influences:

• Hybrid Egyptian-Canaanite temples

are common in 1300 – 1150 BC at

a. Some city-states: Lachish,

b. Egy. admin. centres: Beth-Shan

• Blending of Egy. & Canaanite religions

in architecture and artefacts (cultic).

Tell ed-Duweir - Lachish

LB Age Egypto-Canaanite

temple at Lachish

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Irregular Canaanite temples:

• Diverse and individual types of

Canaanite temples also appear at

LB Age sites:

Hazor Area C shrine in Lower City:

• Placed beside the interior rampart

• A broad-room

• 11 upright stones (stelae / masseboth)

- Central stone depicted two raised

arms below a lunar crescent-disk

• Vertical slab depicting a lion

• Statuette of a seated male

• An altar / offering table

• A pottery mask (ritual equipment?)

• A silver sceptre

• Hence, this small communal shrine

prob. served the immediate community

and had links with a lunar cult.

• Continuity through MB and Iron Ages

Hazor Area C Courtyard 6215


LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













Stratum 1B stelae

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













Stratum 1B Stratum 1B

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room













Rough basalt votive offerings

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room














LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC




LB Age sites:



• A broad-room












• = Continuity through MB and Iron Ages


Silver-plated

Bronze lunar

Standard

From Court

Shrine 6225

Hazor Area C

Stratum 1B

Courtyard 6215

Shrine complex

with discarded

pottery

Late Bronze Age:

- Iron Age IA


(1,550 – 1,150 BCE)

Urban layoutEXTRAMURAL TEMPLES:

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Lachish: Fosse Temple outside City.

• 15th – 13th cents. BC: 1500-1200 BC

• 3 successive (superimposed) temples

• Indirect approach to main hall

• Pillared hall with offering benches

• Central altar/platform along back wall

• Later back rooms for ritual equipment

and priests’ usage.

• Last temple = destroyed ca.1200 BC

i.e., offerings smashed across floor.

• Earlier excess offerings buried in pits

(favissae) outside temple.

• Votives:

- Ivory pieces from a composite cult

statuette (hand; eye).

- Canaanite pottery

- Cypriot & Mycenaean pottery

- Some Egyptian pottery (rare)

- Jewellery, etc.

• Probably catering to foreigners, esp.

merchants?, perhaps Cypriots-Greeks

Fosse Temple at Lachish: Located outside the city –in the dry moat/fosse cutting

Dating to Late Bronze Age; three phases of architecture

Prob. foreign/Aegean-type temple (i.e., “wayfarer shrine”)

Foreign(?), Aegean type extramural temple –traders, wayfarers, etc.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Lachish: Fosse Temple outside City.

• 15th – 13th cents. BC: 1500-1200 BC

• 3 successive (superimposed) temples

• Indirect approach to main hall

• Pillared hall with offering benches

• Central altar/platform along back wall

• Later back rooms for ritual equipment

and priests’ usage.

• Last temple = destroyed ca.1200 BC

i.e., offerings smashed across floor.

• Earlier excess offerings buried in pits

(favissae) outside temple.

• Votives:

- Ivory pieces from a composite cult

statuette (hand; eye).

- Canaanite pottery

- Cypriot & Mycenaean pottery

- Some Egyptian pottery (rare)

- Jewellery, etc.

• Probably catering to foreigners, esp.

merchants?, perhaps Cypriots-Greeks

Egyptian-type materials from Fosse temple

Egyptian-type materials from Fosse temple

Egyptian-type & other materials from Fosse temple

Egyptian-type faience materials (from Fosse temple)

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Tel Mevorakh.

•A small isolated shrine along northern

coast of the Plain of Sharon.

• Similar to Fosse Temple

• Perhaps another foreign-derived

shrine catering to merchants travelling

through Canaan.

Tell Mevorakh temple.

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Amman Airport Structure (LB 2B-I1A):

• Transjordan has yielded an isolated

15 x 15 m square structure, the function

of which has been widely debated:

- Temple? Fire temple/human sacrifice?

- Hittite crematorium? (adult bodies)

- Tribal league centre?

- (Fortified) Trading outpost?

- Elite fortified residence?

• The circular stone in the centre room

has been interpreted as an “altar,” a

sacred stone podium, or column base.

• The contents include:

- Much Minoan & Mycenaean pottery

- Much Canaanite pottery

- Egyptian stone containers & scarabs

- Syro-Mitannian cylinder seals

- Local gold jewellery,

- Basalt vessels, var. loom weights, etc.

- Many human bone frags!: 6+ persons

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

Other square “temples”/structures:

• Amman Airport structure resembles

a few other structures:

- Tananir (Mt. Gerizim; near Shechem)

- Hazor (Str. XV Area F building)

• But, these other structures date to

other periods and have other functions:

a. Mt. Gerizim building dates to late

MB Age and appears to be a

residence outside the adjacent city.

b. The Hazor Area I building dates to

LB Age 1 (pre-dating Amman bldg),

and is suggested to be a “palace” by

some, and a “temple” by others.

• Close parallels to Amman structure

now appear in Transjordan:

a. Beqa Valley

b. El-Mabrak (several km away)

LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• Amman Airport structure …















a. Beqa Valley


LB Age: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC


• Amman Airport structure …















a. Beqa Valley


LB Age

How temples

worked/function:

Cultic installations, rituals, and

votive offerings:

• The state, elite & gen. community

supported the building of temples,

their adornment & their priesthood

(including full-time & part-time).

• Temples served as earthly “homes”

for deities (interface & dwelling).

• Furnishings, food, possessions,etc.

supplied to temples & deities, like

the elite/rulers.

Priesthood acted as servants for the

deities, dressing, feeding, cleaning,

and taking care of them (like elite).

• Rites and offerings served to obtain

additional things from deities:

a. General prosperity & well-being

for the city-state & populace;

b. Specific requests & offerings for

individuals: Healing; safe trip;

bountiful crops; end drought;

c. Forgiveness for transgressions

SUMMARY

OF MAIN

POINTS:

C. Late Bronze Age: Indigenous Canaanite characteristics.

- Date: ca. 1550 – 1200 BC

- Lifestyle: LB Age city-states are mostly unfortified in Palestine (Egyptian

imperial policy?);

Some towns place buildings along mound edge → pseudo-fortified.

Town palace (“governor’s residency) tends to move nearer to

city-gate area

- Religion: Much greater variance in temples: migdol tower-temples continue

(Baal-Hadad), but other foreign-derived designs exist

within and outside towns.

Ugarit yields cuneiform texts with much information on

West Semitic deities worshipped by Canaanites: El, Anat,

Dagon, Baal, Astarte, Yam, Mot, etc. (standing stones;

Baal disk-symbol; raised arms + lunar disk; etc. indicate

diff. cults)

Semi-nomadic pastoralists threatening countryside:

the ‘Apiru, Shasu, etc.

C. Late Bronze Age: Indigenous Canaanite characteristics.

- Technology: Chariot and horses; body armour; composite bow;

socketed weaponry; etc.

- Trade: Cypriot pottery: Base Ring I-II juglets (opium); White Slip I-II;

also valued for beauty.

Mycenaean pottery: valued for its beauty and importing oils &

unguents;

Amarna letters and isolated cuneiform letters reveal international

trade & political relations (Amarna period = late LB 2A:

1350-1300 BC).

Extensive maritime trade: e.g., Ulu Burin shipwreck

(10 tons of copper + 1 ton of tin).

- Artwork: Stone sculpture; cylinder seals & ivories in Canaanite and

hybrid styles.

- Burials: Extended burials (full length) with pit-graves in plains

and cave-tombs in hills

Documents

Anth.340 Ppt. lecture-13: Late Bronze Age Canaan, part-2: Chronology; settlement patterns & occupation sequence; fortifications & de-fortification; town planning (palaces; housing;