Definition: Basically, archaeologists think of the word temple as meaning one of three kinds of shrines, which were intended for worship of a god or other religious personage, object or idea. The first is completely man-made, like the Temple of Athena, identified as a temple archaeologically by the lack of domestic artifacts and/or the presence of religious items.
The second kind of temple is one that is completely natural that has religious significance to a culture--the Devil's Tower is a shrine for many Native American tribes. These kinds of shrines are known to the culture, but may have no archaeological evidence apart from votive materials or gifts left by the practitioners.
The third kind of shrine or temple is one that combines a natural feature with man-made structures, such as the Temple of the Moon at Huayna Picchu, which was built into a cave.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
