Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-18
EXCAVATIONS IN SYRIA.


dal, of Beirut, Syria, forwards under
date of May 81, 1904, report on the
recent archaeological discoveries at the
Tell ell Mutesellim, the supposed site
of Megiddo of the lsrealite kings,
city fortified by Solomon and held by
the early Pharaohs of Egypt between
1000 and 5000 B. c. The excavations
are in charge of Gottlieb Schumacher,
Phi d., C. E., consular agent of the
United States at Haifa, with whom
Consul Rayndal hopes that American
universities or scientific organizations
will see their way clear to cooperate
in the exploration of Palestine. Mr..
Ravndal says:
The site of Megiddo is located on
the southern border of the plain OF
Esdraelon, in the country of Samaria,
eighteen miles to the southeast OF
Haifa, in the present district of Jenin
and Nabulus. The Tell el Mutesellim
reaches an altitude of 626 feet above
the Mediterranean and is the most
commanding point overlooking the
great plain of Esdraelon and Jezreel.
It's superficial area is sixteen asres.
In the immediate neighborhOod is sit
uated the ancient Roman city of Legio,
the Lejjoun of today.
The excavations are carried on in
behalf of the German Society for the
Exploration of Palestine Cat Leipsig)
and the German Orient Gesellschaft,
and are patronized by the German
emperor, who has contributed largely
to the funds of both organizations
The excavations were commenced
in April, 1908, and have been continu-
ed, with short Interruptions, up to the
present time They will be completed,
is expected, within the next five
years.
Among the interesting discoveries
made by DR.. Schumacher may be
mentioned:
l. A large prehistoric temple OF
castle with a fertilization wall of
small stone and dried brick (opus
reticulatum). Canaanite.
2. A stone altar and cistern for
receiving blood and bones of the sac
rifice. No tools used. Canaanite.
8. A large subterranean chamber
bUilt of blocks OF hard limestone,
one overleaning the other. Probably
treasury. Canaanite.
4. Human graves, or foundation
sacrifices, with a collection of very
interesting weapons, jars and instru-
ments of bronze and bone, of the date
Of the so-called bronze age, 150O-2000
B. G.
ga beautifully curt jasper seal, re-
presenting a roaring lion and bearing
the inscription, "Of Shima, abed of
Jeroboam' Cking of IsreaD, $50 B. C.
Presented to the sultan.
6. A Babylonian cylinder of jasper
with cuneiform inscriptions.
Z. Twelve monoliths or messebas
of stone adored and used as holy
shrines by the Isrealites of the days
of the kings of lsreal. The monoliths
bear ancient Hebrew letters on their
surfaces.
s. An Isrealite shrine containing
two messesbas and nine jars filled
with infant bones sacrifices OF the
primogenitary and of twins. The
children were suffocated with dry
earth and ashes filed into the jars, in
accordance with cruel adopted
Phoenician cult.
3. Quite a number of amphoras,
important stone and flint implements,
specimens of the Oldest known pot.
terry, glass, stone and bone, Egyptian
scarabs, etc,
10. A huge wall built of dried
bricks. like those in Babylonia, meas
uring IA to q feet wide, surrounding
the Tell el Mutesellim.
Up to date the deepest trench, car
ried down 90 feet, has not reached
natural ground, the layers of each be-
ing distinctly visible. There may
therefore yet be discoveries of great
scientific Importance on. the site Of
Megiddo.
The tirman under which the eXcaVa-
tons are being prosecuted is granted
SchumaCher's name.