Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-16
ANCIENT CASTLES.
Interesting Results of Late Excava-
tons in Palestine.


tons in Palestine.
Doctor Sellin. professor at the Evan
gelical theological faculty in Vienna,
has Siyen an account of the results of
the excavations which he carried out
in Palestine for the Vienna Academy
Of Sciences. During a previous visit
to the holy land he had noticed
large mound, or small hill, which he
considered 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 necessary funds
to eXcavate the site. 1t hes near the
village of Tanaak, one days journey
from Jaffa and three days from Jeru-
salem. The permission of the sultan
having been obtained Professor Sellin
started for Palestine again with the
necessary equipment, and after some
little difficulty with the people Of the
locality began his excavations Oh
March 8, employing as many as $50
Worllmen.
Under the mound no fewer than
four castles or fOrtresses were dis
cover d. 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 a late Israel
tie period, while on the west was
found the earliest of Their al, one of
pre-lsraelite or Canaanite date. All
the castles had been plundered before
they were destroyed, so that no valu-
ables were found, but objects of stone
and clay and weapons were discov-
cred. which assist in fixing the approx
innate 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 of images such
as are mentioned in the bible, and
also a number OF small ornaments
made of stone and earthenware, most
ly representing beetles, sCarabs ana
other insects, and bearing inscriptions
There were, too, some rude weapons
and vessels. The professor puts the
date of this castle at about 1000 years
before Christ, and suggests that il
was destroyed by the ISraeliteS, per
haps under Solomon, who proceeded
to build their own fortress. Though
this second building has also suffered
considerably, enough remains to show
that it belongs to the sO-called Solo
mon castles. In both, curiously
enough, were found idols, vessels ant
other objects belonging to religious
rites, such as a sacrificial pillar o
stone, with an opening for ibations, {
stone altar. and-the most importan
find of allan earthenware altar il
the form of a stone, adorned will
cherubim and lions. This is the onl,
existing representation of cherubim o
that date. They appear as human
heads with lions body and wings
The late Israelite castle appears t,
have been a fortress only. The Ara
bian castle shows more architecture
skill than the others in its arches, etc
and recalls the style of the period O
HarOun al-Rashid. Vessels and lamp
were found, and inscriptions of rel
gious character. Beneath the ruins @
all the castles human remains wer
found buried with vessels bearing il
scriptions, while close to the SoIomo
castle a cemetery for children seem
to have existed Professor SeIlin d.
scribes the excavation of the Canaan
lite castle as his chief feat, for thoug
remains of such castles have been pr,
yiously discovered by Englishmei
none have hitherto been completed
laid bare. He is of opinion that til
will now be able to draw a compile,
picture of the civilization of the Israe
ties and Canaanites in Palestin
Most of the objects found have bee
sent to the museum in Constantinopl
but efforts will be made to take son
of them to Vienna