Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications
Archaeological discussions on prehistoric ritual are largely concerned with their material remains, including architectural debris. The first step in interpretation of such remains is their precise identification and categorization. There are numerous terms for objects and architectural remains that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Belgrade
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
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| Online Access: | http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/380 |
| _version_ | 1828123952001581056 |
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| author | Milena Gošić |
| author_facet | Milena Gošić |
| author_sort | Milena Gošić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Archaeological discussions on prehistoric ritual are largely concerned with their material remains, including architectural debris. The first step in interpretation of such remains is their precise identification and categorization. There are numerous terms for objects and architectural remains that are widely utilized in the archaeological jargon, including, but not limited to, the terms temple, sanctuary and shrine. During almost a century of studying the Chalcolithic Ghassulian culture of the southern Levant, various architectural structures excavated at the sites of Teleilat Ghassul, Gilat and En Gedi have all been interpreted as temples, sanctuaries, or shrines – terms that in case of the Ghassulian culture are used as synonymous of temples. However, the actual architectural remains from these sites differ significantly and explicit definitions on what is meant by the terms used are rare. Apart from demonstrating the importance of properly defining a term in a context in which it is used, the aim of the present paper is to compare these various architectural remains, as well as various interpretations of Ghassulian society and the role the presumed temples played in them. This will be the basis for evaluating how classifying archaeological structures as temples has influenced interpretations of Ghassulian social organization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:59:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9fca5c9a589a404fa53bb5f20f6eb432 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0353-1589 2334-8801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:59:45Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
| spelling | doaj.art-9fca5c9a589a404fa53bb5f20f6eb4322022-12-22T04:17:02ZengUniversity of BelgradeEtnoantropološki Problemi0353-15892334-88012016-09-0111310.21301/EAP.V11I3.11Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implicationsMilena Gošić0Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Serbia Archaeological discussions on prehistoric ritual are largely concerned with their material remains, including architectural debris. The first step in interpretation of such remains is their precise identification and categorization. There are numerous terms for objects and architectural remains that are widely utilized in the archaeological jargon, including, but not limited to, the terms temple, sanctuary and shrine. During almost a century of studying the Chalcolithic Ghassulian culture of the southern Levant, various architectural structures excavated at the sites of Teleilat Ghassul, Gilat and En Gedi have all been interpreted as temples, sanctuaries, or shrines – terms that in case of the Ghassulian culture are used as synonymous of temples. However, the actual architectural remains from these sites differ significantly and explicit definitions on what is meant by the terms used are rare. Apart from demonstrating the importance of properly defining a term in a context in which it is used, the aim of the present paper is to compare these various architectural remains, as well as various interpretations of Ghassulian society and the role the presumed temples played in them. This will be the basis for evaluating how classifying archaeological structures as temples has influenced interpretations of Ghassulian social organization.http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/380templeChalcolithicterminologyritualcomplexityGhassulian |
| spellingShingle | Milena Gošić Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications Etnoantropološki Problemi temple Chalcolithic terminology ritual complexity Ghassulian |
| title | Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications |
| title_full | Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications |
| title_fullStr | Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications |
| title_short | Temples in the Ghassulian Culture: Terminology and social implications |
| title_sort | temples in the ghassulian culture terminology and social implications |
| topic | temple Chalcolithic terminology ritual complexity Ghassulian |
| url | http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/380 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT milenagosic templesintheghassuliancultureterminologyandsocialimplications |