On Temples, Palaces and the Case of Hazor’s Building 7050: Classifying Ancient Architecture Based on Archaeological Methods

Abstract

This paper addresses a major methodological issue faced by archaeologists when seeking to apply clear definitions to architectural units. Temples and palaces dominate the Bronze Age landscape of the southern Levant. But what are the parameters for distinguishing between these two types of spaces? Architectural analysis on its own can lead to misguided conclusions. A structure must be further contextualized on the local and regional levels, and the use of its interior space must be understood. This paper focuses specifically on the classification of Hazor’s Building 7050, a monumental Late Bronze Age building that sits atop the site’s acropolis. A detailed study of Building 7050’s architecture, space syntax, activity types, metrology, and the site’s urban planning demonstrates that the complex was modeled on cultic, not palatial, space.