Alaska sentinel., 1903-01-22
DISCOVERIES IN PALESTINE.
Result of Excavation for Vienna Acad-
 emy of Sciences.


 emy of Sciences.
 pr. Sellin. professor at the eyangeli- cal 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 a large mound, or small hill. which he consid- cred 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 necessary funds to excavate the site. It lies near the vil- lage of Tanaak. one days journey from Jaffa and three days from Jerusalem. The permission of the Sultan having been obtained, Professor Sellin started for Palestine again with the necessary equipment, and after some little diff culty with the people of the locality began his excavations on March 9, en- ploying as many as 1J0 workmen.
 Under the mound TO fewer than four castles or fortresses were discovered. 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 late Israelite pe- riod; while on the west was found the earliest of them all-one of pre-Israel- had been plundered before they were destroyed, so that no valuables were found. but objects of stone and clay and weapons were discovered, which assist in fixing the approximate date of the various buildings. The Canaan ite castle is the oldest. built of un- hewn blocks of stone, which show no marks of the chisel Inside lay frag- ments of images such as are mention ed in the Bible and also a number of small ornaments made of stone and earthenware, mostly representing bee ties. scarabs and other insects and bearing inscriptions. There. too. were some rude weapons and vessels. The professor puts the date of this castle at about 2,0O0 years before Christ and cuSEVcio t4idi II W dS bN lue Israelites. perhaps under Solomon. who proceeded to build their own fortress. Though this second building has also suffered considera bly, enough remains to show that It belongs to the so-called Solomon castles. In both. curiously enough, were found idols. vessels and other objects belonging to religious rites. such as a sacrificial pillar of stone, with an opening for libations, a stone altar and-the most important find of allan earthenware altar in the form of throne, adorned with cheru- bim and lions.
 This is the only existing representa-. tion of cherubim of that date. They appear as human heads, with lions body and wings.
 The late 1sraelite castle appears to have been a fortress only. The Ara. bian 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 inscriptions of a re- ligious 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 to have existed. Professor Sellin. accord ing to the London Standard. describes the excavation of the Canaanite castle as his chief feat. for. though remains of such castles have been previously discovered by Englishmen. none have hitherto been completely laid bare He is of opinion that he will now be able to draw a complete picture of the civilization of the Israelites and Ca. naanites in Palestine. Most of the ob- jects found have been sent to the mu. scum in Constantinople. but efforts will be made to bring some of them to Vienna
 The Chestnut GpiDp