The archaeology of Israelite cult: Yahwisms across space and time

The archaeology of Israelite religion is fraught with interpretational challenges. Questions such as how material remains evince ritual behavior, reflect the processes of such practice(s), or capture beliefs underlie many studies on this topic. The plurality of answers to such questions makes it clear that prudence is necessary. In this chapter, we present the material culture of Israelite cult. This is not an easy task, but we draw upon previous studies to classify and define the architectural expression of Israelite cult, along with the correlating material objects. We argue that the expression of belief in ancient Israel was fluid in its material expression. Through careful consideration of the contexts, assemblages, and landscapes of cult, we detail the Yahwisms of ancient Israel, accounting for the multiplicity of religious expression attested in the archaeological record.