Domestic Architecture, Ancient Israel

Since the advent of agriculture, all humans have lived in built environments, and traditional societies typically produce living spaces that exhibit considerable uniformity. Domestic architecture, ancient Israel refers to the typical structures that housed most Israelite families in the Iron Age (c. 1200–587 bce). Although some house forms that existed in the pre-Israelite periods continued into the Iron Age, mainly in enclaves of non-Israelites, one house form came to dominate in settlements identified as Israelite. This type is called by various names. It was first identified as a rectangular space divided into three longitudinal spaces and, at the back, one horizontal space, creating four rooms; it was thus designated a “four-room house” (and more recently a “longitudinal four-space house”). However, as more excavated examples became known, it became clear that this house type had many variations, some having fewer than four rooms and many, especially when second stories are taken into account, having considerably more. Thus, because a row of pillars typically separates two of the longitudinal spaces, they are sometimes called “pillared” houses or “pillar-courtyard” houses. Either way, the location of courtyard space in these buildings is not clear. The function of these structures was not only to provide shelter from the elements or from enemies; it was also the workspace for many of the activities that were essential for the survival of the agriculturalists who comprised the great majority of the Israelite population. Houses served as places to sleep and eat and also to carry out basic economic functions: preparing food, making and using essential household items (e.g., textiles, pottery, baskets), and storing provisions and implements. They also were the settings for religious activities and local social and political as well as familial interactions. In addition, the organization of space in a dwelling probably embodied and communicated cultural values.