Cult Podium

View looking west at the cult [worship] center of Dan.  It measures 62 ft. [19 m.] by 26 ft. [8 m.].This area is located on the north side of the Tel.  The altar associated with the podium is located to the left (south) of it—Visible Here.

The platform is made out of hewn limestone blocks - often set in "header and stretcher" construction.  Original stones are visible on the lower course of the wall that is in the foreground

Evidently, religious structures (temples containing idols [golden calves?]) were placed on the top of the podium, but they have long since been destroyed.

This area was a worship center at least from the time of the first king of Israel - namely Jeroboam I (930-909 B.C.). He is the one who placed golden calves in Bethel and here at Dan (1 Kings 12:29-30). The area remained a sacred area through the fourth century A.D.