During the Iron Age (1200-586 B.C.) in Israel and Jordan a pillared building was the norm for family dwellings. These types of houses are found throughout Israel and also on the east side of the Jordan Valley.
Typically these houses have four units: three were parallel to each other while the fourth was, usually at the rear of the house, perpendicular to the three parallel units. Although many now argue that all four units were covered by a roof, or possibly a second storey, it is possible that the central unit-of the three parallel ones-was open to the sky and formed a courtyard.