The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-26
RUINS or NlPpuR.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


Prof. Hilprecht, whose energetic labors
have brought hack the treasure OF curious
emblems and records of ancient civilian
ton. now deposited In the museums OF
archaeology.
Prot Ifilprecht wen, abroad last No
vember 10 resume his task. after com
piering the organization OF the new Free
Museum OF Science and Art. The later eff
forts OF the expedition have been directed
TO the recovery of historical tablets in-
scribed In the cuneiform text OF the an
Client Assyrians, in the Interpretation OF
which Prof Iiilprecht is an unexcclled au-
thority AS these relics are found impress
slons are taken OF them and they are re-
moved from the sites OF excavation by
permission OF the Ottoman government at
Constantinople the region OF this i'm
portant archaeological research being
within the boundaries OF the Turkish ein-
pire.
The recent work Of the university expe-
dition has been devoted 20 the exploration
OF the mounds covering the ancient city
Of Nippur. This site Is believed 10 I've
Identical with n place called Calnch in
Genesis r. 10. and also the place TO which
the Jewish captiVes were carried BY Nebu-
chadnezzar II IL also believed to be the
place where the prophet Ezekiel had his
vision.
brary of the Temple ~. Nippur has been
tbs chico, OF prolonged search by the
three expeditions IN the work Prof. flti-
nrecht taoipted out years ago the probable
location Of the temple ltbFary. containing
ia imperishable records ~ Bebs lonian
history az the third millennium. y. =
During the early excavations 400 cpne'-
form documents were exposed ~ the
trenches along the upper hilsH. To This
tai
ists forming part ~ the library which has
been the object 81 such persistent search
These ala records were found In long
rows living on Lodges o. baked clay the
recovery IL these priceless relies ~ am
,tgnity ia one ~ the most gratifying re-
sujts og The American expedition, when ~
working in competition with two other ex'
,,cdItions from Germany and France ~
together more than ee0e u these tablets
snserst,ed Ia this early non Semitic Ian
swage an II great archaeological inter
- nave hseu received from the sKplors'
tions az Ntppur.
s,t,,r,r a she Oldest knawn city IA The
,.,sa II dates back 60 AZ least $50
go befsre Christ. bot the modern world
has tpawn nothing about 81 except with
tn ,ha laat ten or twelve years
What Jerusalem ls q the christian
,.s,iA slrpur WAa 90 the world and 20
the TEHf#r WINCH FNtHHfat
1900 before fhs coming ~ Christ Tbs
srraat temple nf Bel in NippuF Vas shs
center ~ the religion ~ those days. nnu
Ia t1s uaafg discovered library y - eS-
narfe.i tableta w8N be found which VIII
shyaw new Hight on tho subject
enough has already feen discovered ana
,rap4fa4.d 20 fiM modern scholars Nith a.
tsntshrucnt Civilization bad reached .
,.,i,t IN ancient Babyi9uiA easS years
49, whieh nearly approximate IA many
900 she hinh4at civilization ~ tbs preN-
-. 9av while a ciSlten Of NipFur IN fhs
vasr SEQ b. C. waIta have looked 81 more
mac halt the present Inhabitants - the
World ss sitter iaruariaHs.
Thers were. Ter instance. IN Nipppr
bankers Hnd real estate ag0ntS. for iae'f
account books have been found and DE-.
eirheraH If Was Qults possible f0f =
gentleman living in Merth tsahGianiA -
raaee BIS landsd estates ia The southern
rrsrlaee In the hands - an euterpriWax
ysaf estate man ia SippgF who would a.
tsrd 81 TIE leasing o; TINS land, c1ilee,
DE rents. and make prompt &19 regular
ramlttauces.
More thaa a8a years arr there were
selittsrs In NsppuF ard Zig art bronze
Countries. Tor hath spAFnd!3iy esecited
statues. carved from solid porphyry and
other stones. and cast bfo1zs figures have
been found IN great abundance TIE
sklu vita which ihe seulpters dia tlseif
work is evidence that the Nippuran tool
makers were NOT far benird those Of the
pssss.s ge-sEat.cl- Iaess xs.s 40