The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
EXCAVATION At GAIA
Biblical Narrative Confirmed
by ArChaeOlOgists,
REVISION OF THE VULGATE
work OF Many Years-The Chippewa
Language as Systematic as Any
can Father-ExceIIent Volume on
Arabia Contains Valuable Charts.

/ IN the October Dublin Review, Rev.
Hugh Pope. 0. p. tells OF the marvellous
/ discoveries that have been made whilst
excavating on the site Of the ancient
Gezer, or GAIA, in Palestine
a mound was selected as the point for
! beginning the excavation This mound
consists Of an eastern and a western hill
and a central valley. The work was be-
gun in June 1902. on the eastern hill.
Three monollths were FIRST discovered
then five more. -Four successive strata OF
ruins were found. In the central valley
the same four strata recurred; bat three
more were added. two below the lowest
on the eastern hlI, and one above the
topmost previously found. The western
hin Is largely occupied by a modern
Arab cemetery, but a point was found
where the excavating would be permis-
slble. and here an eighth stratum was re-
vealed
The central valley has been the most
remunerative. Three walls around the
ancient city were traced. The northeast
and southwest gates were disclosed.
The southwest gate is peculiarly in
teresting in its vicinity are, perhaps.
the most valuable finds.
The seven principal strata are arranged
in four main groups: Maccabaean. jew
ish Monarchy Canaanite. and pre-
Semitic. IN the first IS found the castle
Of Simon. the Maccabee.
Stratum Is referred 10 the early Israel
ite occupation. " and III are credited TO
the Canaanites. In II and ! Troglodyte
neolithic man stands unveiled before Us
with a clearness and detail which no
geological discoveries could hope 10 rival
Vestiges are disclosed OF a race far
anterior 10 the Israelltes. The two lowest
strata represent the cave dwelling aborigl-
nails whom we may henceforth term
Troglodytes.
The debris indicates q civilization con-
dderably anterior % that 0f the oa-Iy
Semites. The earliest occupations Of the
Tell are put back 70 about 400 p. G..
II is claimed that by these discoveries
the Bible narrative is vinGicated. First
from the historical standpoint: second
from the standpoint Of Dts religious teach
ings.
The Sacred Narrative tells us OF success
sive CanaaEta. Egyptian. Phuisuue,
syrian, and Maccabaean occupations Of
Gezer or Gaza, Previous to 800 q. O.,
Thothmcs III had subjugated the place.
GAIA dates from before Biblical times
The Cauaauitcs. Egyptians. Hebrews,
both early and late. Egyptians Macca-
bees. and Syrlans are mentioned by the
Bible apropos Of Gczer-
The excavations have revealed most
substantial traces OF an these IN the or
der given We have learned far more
about the various occupations Of the site
than we could have CLEANED from the
Bibles scanty but accurate hints.
Bearing upon the religious teachings o.
Holy Writ much has been uneaTthed az
GAIA indicating the customs concerning
infant sacrifices. the 'high places,
yeueration n the dead. &c.
We have been unable here 10 give the
fascinating details Of this work and Of
the methods by which the eTcavat0rs ar
rive at their conclusions. But these latest
excavations viii undoubtedly give q new
impetus 20 the work 0f the Palestine EX-
plorauon Fund. in the hope Of making at
least equally wonderful discoveries else
where in the far East
In recent audience IiGS \ reminded
Abbot Gasquot that the task of the re-
vision commission would be 10 prepare
the way for as perfecLan edition as pos
sible Of the original text OF St Jerome
They would have 10 search out every
scrap and fragment OF the ancient text
in every library. museum, collection. and
manuscript in every country In the worlG.
They would have 10 copy them, photo
graph them. collect them. compare them,
weigh them, and sift them. They would
have TO use the widest eruditon, the
most minute and paiustaking research,
and the most rigidIy scientific methods.
II Is calculated that the expenses of the
undertaking viii amount TO between 2,oo0
and 5000 francs a year.
Abbot Casquet has selected the first
three members Of the commission. viz: