Evening star., 1902-09-12
DISCOVERIES IN PALESTINE.
Result Of Excavations Made for Wen
ma Academy Of Sciences.

nd AcaueLny OF sciences.
From the London Standard.
DR.. Sellin, professor at the Evangelical
Theological Faculty in Vienna, has given an
account Of the results Of the excavations
which he carried out in Palestine for the
Vienna Academy of Sciences. During a pre-
vious visit to the holy land he had noticed
large mound, or small hill, which he con-
sdered was probably of artificial origin, and
might conceal the remains of some ruined
city. On his return he induced the Academy
Of Sciences to provide him with the neces-
sary funds to eXcavate the site. 1t lies
near the village Of Tanaak one days jour
ney from Jaffa and three days from Jerusa-
lem. The permission of the sultan having
been obtained Professor Sellin started for
Palestine again with the necessary equip
ment and, after some little difficulty with
the people Of the locality, began his exca-
vatons on March 8, employing as many as
100 wOrkmen.
Under the mound no fewer than four
castles or fortresses were discovered. In
the middle were the ruins of an Arabian
castle; on the east castle of the period of
King Solomon; on the northwest one of
late Israeiite period: while on the west was
found the earliest of them all, one Of pre-
Israelite or Canaanite date All the castles
had been ptundered before they were de-
strOyed, so that no VauableS were found
but objects of stone and clay and weapons
were discovered, which assist in fixing the
approximate date of the various buildings
The Canaanite castle is the oldest, built of
unhewn blocks Of stone, which show no
marks Of the chisel. Inside lay fragments
oe images such as are mentioned in the
Bible and also a number of small ornaments
made Of stone and earthenware. mostly rep
reSentfng beetles, ScarabS, and other insects
and bearing inscriptions. There were, too,
some rude weapons and vessels. The pro-
fessor puts the date of this castle at about
two thousand years before Christ, and sug-
pcSf1 hot Nv he Iar rooY
ties. perhaps under Solomon, who proceed
ed to build their own fortress. Though this
second building has also suffered consider
ably, enough remains to show that it be-
both, curfousy enough. were found idols,
vessels and other objects belonging to re-
ligious rites. such as a sacriticial pillar of
stone, with an opening for libations, stone
altar. and-the most important find of all
an earthenware altar in the form OF a
throne, adorned with cherubim and lions.
This is the only existing representation of
eherubim of that date. They appear az
human heads with lions body and wings.
The late Israelfte castle appears to have
been fortress only. The Arabian castle
shows more architectural skill than the
others in its arches, ETC., and recalls the
style of the period of Haroun-al-Rashid
Vessels and lamps were found, and inscrip-
tions OF religious character. Beneath the
ruins OF all the castles human remains
were found buried with vessels bearing in
scriptions, while close to the Solomon cas-
tie a cemetery for children seems to have
existed Professor Seliin describes the ex
cavation Of the Canaanite castle as his chief
feat, for though remains of such castles
have been previously discovered by En-
giishnen, none have hitherto been com
pieteiy laid bare. He Is Of opinion that he
will now be able to draw a complete pic
ture of the civilization Of the Israelites and
Canaanites in Palestine. Most of the oh
tects found have been sent to the museum
in Constantinople. but efforts will be made
to bring some OF them to Vienna