Archaeology Final Exam Terms

Narthex

an enclosed passage at the entrance of a church, particularly in Byzantine architecture

Four-Room House

An Iron Age house found in Israelite settlements that had three parallel rooms and a fourth perpendicular room

Six-Chamber Gate

a fortified city gate with six chambers that was found at Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer

Negev Fortresses

small Iron Age fortresses that showed a united early Israelite state, were found in the desert to help control trade routes and prevent desert incursions

Ashlar Masonry

a type of stone construction where stones are uniformly shaped, sized, and dressed, then arranged in regular courses or patterns with minimal mortar. It's a high-quality, often decorative, form of stonework used in buildings like castles, cathedrals, and fortifications.

Pillar Figurines

small clay figurines found in the Iron Age, often thought to be symbols of fertility

Ark/Torah Shrine

found in Jewish synagogues that hold the Torah scrolls and are oriented to face Jerusalem

Assyrian Palace Ware

fine, thin-walled ceramic characterized by light colors, that indicates the presence of Assyrian control, usually used in elite buildings such as an administrative center or royal palace

Motab

sacred raised platforms found at Nabatean sites, particularly Petra, were the focal point of worship in Nabatean temples

Triclinium

a Roman dining room found in elite houses that had three couches arranged around a table

Lamelech Seals

stamped impressions on storage jars found in Judah, often included the name of cities and iconography

Bema

a raised platform found in synagogues that was used for reading scripture, giving speeches, and performing rituals

Tripartite Pillared Buildings

Iron Age architectural design with two aisles divided by rows of stone pillars, interpreted as state-level storehouses

Dushara

the chief deity of the Nabataeans, who was depicted as a standing stone, found at Petra

Nave

the central space of a church where the congregation would gather, decorated with mosaic floors

Columbarium

could be above or below ground, used to hold funerary urns in the Hellenistic period

Standing stone (massebah)

an upright stone used as a commemorative monument during the Iron Age

Opus Reticulatum

Roman technique that was used to build walls, pyramid-shaped stones placed together to form a net-like pattern on the wall

Bit Hilani

a type of palace architecture that was found during the Iron Age, characterized by a column entrance, a long reception area, and a symmetrical layout

Mikveh (or miqveh)

ritual bath used in Jewish tradition for purification, had a system for collecting rainwater

Collared-rim store jars

had a distinctive thick rim that was found at Israelite settlements in the Iron Age, used in household storage or food security practices

Nabateans

an ancient arab group found between the 4th and 2nd centuries, best known for creating the site of Petra, known for their mastery of desert trade and engineering, particularly their expertise in water management

Bet Midrash

a Jewish study house used for religious learning and Torah interpretation

Casemate wall

found at Iron Age sites such as Hazor, consisted of two parallel walls with space in between used for living quarters or storage

Cardo

the main street in Roman cities that consisted of shops and public buildings, found in Jerusalem and Bet She'an

Domus Ecclesia

meaning "house church," refers to a private home repurposed or used for Christian worship and communal gatherings, particularly during the early Christian era when open public worship was not always permitted

Loculus/loculi

a small compartment or niche, often in catacombs or other burial sites, used to house a body or urn. rectangular niches in rock-cut tombs that were used for Jewish, Roman, and Early Christian burials

Eastern Sigillata

fine red-slipped pottery that was found during the Roman and Hellenistic periods

Apse

semicircular area in a church that typically held the altar, usually on the eastern end of the church

Decumanus

the main East-West street in Roman cities, lined with public buildings and shops

Basilica

a specific type of ancient Roman public building, typically oblong and ending in a semicircular apse. These structures were used as law courts, markets, and public assembly halls. They also served as the administrative and commercial centers of Roman settlements.

Proto-Aeolic capitals

decorative stone capitals with spiral motifs that were found in elite buildings during the Iron Age

Courtyard House

common residential layout with rooms arranged around a central courtyard

Bamah (high place)

cultic installation used in the Iron Age that was used for sacrifices and worship; altars and standing stones were commonly found

Betyl

a sacred stone, often a meteorite or a similar-looking rough stone, that was venerated and thought to house a god or deity, Nabatean

Cult Rooms

room in a house separated containing cult items to worship god.

Atrium

Open central court in a Roman or Early Christian building used as a space for ritual washing.

Window Wall

A wall constructed with a series of small openings used for ventilation, found in the Byzantine period.

Mycenaean IIIC 1B

Regional variant found in Cyprus; monochrome with Mycenean decoration and form, Philistine pottery.

Negev ware

Handmade coarse pottery found in the Negev desert during the Iron Age, characterized by gritty and rough surfaces, hand made.

Philistine bichrome

A distinctive type of pottery from the Early Iron Age, features red and black paint on creamy slip with geometric, bird or fish motifs, associated with the Philistines.

Opus Sectile

Decorative art technique that uses cut pieces of stone to create walls and floor patterns used in luxurious Roman buildings.