Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-10-16
ANCIENT CASTLES.
Interesting Results OF Late Excava-
tons in Palestine.

Doctor Sellin, professor at the Evan
gelical 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 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. II lies 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 on
March 8, employing as many as $50
workmen.
Under the mound no fewer than
four castles or fortresses were dis
covered. In the middle were the ruins
of an Arabian castle; on the east, a
castle OF the period of King Solomon:
on the northwest, one of a late Israel
lie period, while on the west was
found the earliest of them all, one of
pre-lsraelite or Canaanite date. All
the castles had been pmndered before
they We're 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
~ 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 az about 1000 years
before Christ, and suggests that 1t
was destroyed by the lsraelites. per-
haps under Solomon, who proceeded
this second building has also suffered
considerably, enough remains TO show
that IL belongs to the so-ealled Solo.
mon castles. In both. curiously
enough, were found idols, vessels and
other objects belonging to religious
rites, such as a sacrlhcial pillar of
stone, with an opening for libations, a
stone altar, and--the most important
find of allan earthenwere altar in
the form Of stone, adorned with
cheruhian and lions, This is the only
existing representation of cheruhim OF
that date They appear as human
heads with a lions body and wings.
The late Israelite castle appears TO
have been a fortress only. The Ara
hian castle shows more architectural
skill than the others In its arches, etc,
Haroun-al-Rashid. Vessels and lamps
were found. and inscriptions of reli.
gious character. Beneath the ruins OF
all the castles human remains were
found buried with vessels bearing In.
scriptions. while close to the Solomon
castle cemetery for children seems
10 have existed. Professor Sellin de-
scrihes the excavation Of the Canaan.
lite castle as his chief feat for though
remains of such castles have been pre-.
viousE discovered by Englishmen.
none have hitherto been completely
laid bare. He is OF opinion that the
will now be able to draw complete