The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-20
DIGGING AMONG Ruins.
Many interesting Discoveries Are
Being Made.
ANCIENT CITIES ARE BUILT ON RUINS.
The World Said to be an Old World in
the Time Of Abraham.

Professor Josiah Penniman. dean Of
the University Of Pennsylvania, spoke
before large audience at the Central
Presbyterian church, at Kansas City,
recently, describing the finding OF
the site Of ancient Caloeb 'in the
land Of Shinar, ., ey an expedition
sent out 10 charge OF Professor H. v.
Hnprecbt, from the University of
Pennsylvania
The professor enumerates the list
Of remarkable objects taken from the
mound Of Nippnr. The great bulk Of
the treasures consists Of cuniform
tablets, Of which there are over
100000 These disclose syllabries of
dictionaries, chronological lists, frag-
ments OF history, astronomical and
architectural Inscriptions, religious
texts, yotive and contract tablets,
lists Of taxes, plans of estates, multi
pllcation tables, etc. The results OF
the excavations at Nippur, the
speaker said, change the current
theory Of the origin and antiquity OF
many things. They throw some very
welcome rays Of light on that very
early period Of history in the land OF
the Garden Of Eden; they teach US
that back Of Abraham lies change
of civilization which had develop
'fment Of several thousand years; that
I the staiemesis contained 10 the first
chapters Of Genesis are indeed an
epitome Of history, representing
millenniums; that instead Of CONSIDER
ing Abraham an early figure on the
sand of time, we must even regard
Lugalzaggisi and Sargon as represent
ing middle period in Babylonian
history
The mounds which are being ex-
lcayated at Nippur cover several dis
tiuct cities, each one apparently
having been founded on the ruins Of
the city which preceded IL. 1t would
seem that when a temple had crumb-
led away new dynasty would level
the ruins by building a platform over
them. On this the new temple
would be built. Five or more such
platforms have been discovered in
Nippur and each one represents an
Interval Of centuries. Each city in a
manner became cellar OF the sue
lcessor, aud one can imagine 10 the
millenniums that passed some inhab-
liant discovering a strange passage
way between his house winding down
to wonderful caverus. Among the
objects found in these caverns by the
explorers from the University of
Pennsylvania we're the business
records of the firm Of Marashu Sons,
of Nippur, concern which thrlved
I'D the time of Artaxerxes l.. AGA
years before Christ These tablets
are, 10 sense, the oldest bookkeeping
records in the world Professor
Hilprecht was the dlscoverer OF these
business records He found them in
a room in the ruins Of Nippur, six
meters below the surface, together
with other remarkable articles en-
grayed on tablets. These tablets
were mortgages, notes, legal con.
tracts, and to read them as they have
been translated by Professor Hllprecht
one would almost believe them to be
the work Of modern notary.
Professor Hilprecht was constantly
finding fragments of tablets, of vases,
of urus, Of sarcophagi, etc each frag-
ment inscribed with some enlighten-
log fact, or perhaps with some
puzzling statement, the meaning Of
which was not ascertained Until later.
He was able, at times, to corroborats
many historical statements concern
ing kings before Christ, and at others
70 hll completely many gaps 10 the
long liue Of succession until they
traced back to the days of Ur Cur,
$500 B. @, Narim Sin and his father,
Sargon +, $500 B. O., and to diteen
kings who lived previous 10 Sargon.
Rev XehopbOn Rvlard raturned