Includes 150 b/w illustrations.


This work, which is part of a series of excavation reports from the ancient site of Tell Taannek, examines an Iron Age cultic structure and its contents. Frick explores the question of how one might, on the basis of archaeological data, determine the likelihood that a structure had a cultic function. He considers the relationship between cultic and "secular" activity, particularly with regard to the ways in which cult served a regulatory function within society. He also examines the question of "popular" religious practice in ancient Israel, making reference to biblical passages concerning cultic activity. The book includes five appendices with section drawings and tables describing the type and location of all registered artefacts.