Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (453 page)

An Islamic place of worship found widely distributed in the Islamic world from the 7th century
ad
. The earliest examples were simple enclosures imitating the courtyard of the Prophet Mohammad's house at Medina. Later congregational examples have an essentially common architecture: large areas that are partly open and partly covered where the congregation meets for prayer; a niche (
mihrab
) at the centre of the end wall in the direction of Mecca, sometimes with a screen (
maqsura
) across the front; to the right of the
mihrab
is a stepped pulpit (
minbar
); one or more minarets (
manar
) outside the main structure from which the faithful are called to prayer by the muezzin (
mu'adhdhin
); and facilities for washing. Schools and libraries may also be part of the complex.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

In
ROCK ART
studies, a recurrent visual image which has a particular arrangement of components; an element in a (usually) complex design. It may be non-representational or pictorial.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Earth mound marking the site of a small medieval castle.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

A widespread type of early medieval military strong-hold comprising an artificially constructed earthen
MOTTE
, surrounded by a ditch, with an adjoining separately defined enclosure known as a bailey. The basic idea seems to have developed in the Rhineland during the 10th century
ad
and was adopted by the Normans a century later during their conquests of England, Wales, Ireland, and elsewhere. Motte and bailey castles were built for offensive operations as well as for defence, and are found in urban areas and rural settings. Motte and bailey castles were superseded by other kinds of defensive work in the 12th century
ad
, but some were made permanent by the replacement of wooden components with stone structures, as at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

A beaker made in Gaul or the Rhineland decorated with white-painted scrolls and words forming phrases such as:
da mihi vinum
(give me wine);
valete
or
vivas
(good health);
nolite sitire
(thirst not); and
bibe
(drink up).

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

A species of wild sheep found in southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean (Ovis orientalis), domesticated from about 9000 bc. See also
SHEEP
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search