  We describe basic periodic trapping configurations for ultracold atoms above
surfaces. The approach is based on a simple wire grid and can be scaled to
provide large arrays of periodically arranged magnetic or magneto-optical
traps. The unit cells of the trap lattices are based on crossed wire segments.
By alternating the current directions in the wires of the grid it can be
distinguished between 3 basic lattice configurations. As a first demonstration,
we used macroscopic wires in a 2 layer configuration to realize the unit cells
of the lattices. With this experimental setup, we observe two of the basic unit
cells and an array of 2x2 magneto optical traps.
