Page 66 - DILMUN 13_Neat

DILMUN

) foundation walls of the large building on the upper platform
) tirst layers of building stones of the large building on the upper platform
) outline (dotted) of the large building on the upper platform
) remains of the floor of the large building on the upper platform, with double circular

altars etc.
) remains of the western floor of the upper platform, with chambers
) sacrificial enclosure with stone-built altar
‫ (ﺍ‬ramp between the upper platform and the sacirficial enclosure
‫ (ﺍ‬road to the ramp
) well presevred retaining wall of the lower platform (phase lla), with two staiwrays
!) altar on the lower platform
‫ (ﺍ‬position of the temple-well
‫ (ﺍ‬remains of the relaining wall of the lower platform (phase Ilb), continuation to the notrh

indicated (dotted)
‫ (ﺯ‬unexcavated area in southwest, indicating locally the sufrace level of the lower

platform bounded by retaining wall Ilb
‫ (ﺯ‬late chamber built at the retaining wlal IIb
٣) basin
3) patrly preseved staiwray bewteen the upper platform and the basin, with threshold

stone indicating the position of a gateway
)) socket stones flanking the staiwray between the upper platform and the basin, near

the platform
)) ١ow platform with triple altars at the foot of the retianing wall llb

To understand why Temple II was chosen, it is necesssary brielfy to mention that the
nple shows a constructional sequence of three phases (Temple [-III). The temples are
!aced one above the other, but stand in very different dergees of presevration. Of Temple
I veyr little has survived, whereas the extensive remains of Temple II are covering most of
emple I - Temple II being a replica of Temple I.

Furthermore the exacvations had revealed a comparatively coherent picture of Temple
'. It was to this temple that the features uncovered in 1970 belonged; and it is this temple
‫ﺍ‬tposssess by faralthe lmostaimposing andwbest p.resevred

Temple II constitutes a structure consisting of a double stepped platform with wto
ing-structures, a basin to the west and an oval enclosure to the east (Fig. 2). hTe main
uilding material was ifnely squared ilmestone blocks probably from Jidda, but as the
١Onument has been subjected to extensive stone-plundering, many walls are only
agmentary, Finds rfom this temple indicate that it was in use in the centuires around 2000

c.

Wth its special lay-out we can consider the central temple-complex as a so-called
high-temple' (Hochtermpel). hTe stepped platform consisted of two massive terraces, a
١wer one of oval or semi-circular shape sumrounted by an upper rectangular platform, both
ounded by retaining walls. On the upper platform a large building wsa placed a-centrally. It
oused theholy of holies' with its altars and other appurtenancies. Of this temple-building

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