The question of the origin of the ancient temple architecture of Mesopotamia is investigated. The main subject of study is the formation of the tradition of cult construction on the territory of Dvurechye in the pre-written era. The conditions and prerequisites for the appearance of the first public buildings of a cult purpose in Mesopotamia have been determined; differences in the construction technique, design and functioning of sacred structures of various early agricultural cultures of the region were revealed; the dynamics of the development of cult architecture of the VIII - the first half of the IV millennium BC was considered. e.; compared the characteristics of religious construction of the pre-written period and the early stages of the "historical" era.