Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-20

relics unearthed belonged. The most
important discovery after the excaVa-
tlon OF the walls Of Jericho was the
former citadel. 1t lay on the slope of
the northWesterly hills on which Jeri-
cho was built. and was fortified by an
external aud internal WALL both of
which were crowned by strong cor
mel towers and connected at irregular
intervals by walls. The entire north
ern part OF the citadel has been laid
there. On the northern slope of the
city without the walls numerous re-
mains OF Canaanite houses were dis
covered. Some Of these leaned against
the old city wall, and recalled as one
writer points cut. the house of Rahab,
in which Joshua's spies took refuge.
The partition walls of clay were in
many cases still standing, and even
Owe rs a,id drainage canal were still
to De traced. In many cases the bod
les OF little children buried in Jars were
found beneath the clay floors Of the
houses. Inc eNcavatOrs believe that
tins slope was inhabited from the end
OF 200 Is. {. up to the last few cen
tuf1eS before Christ. At five different
stops flights Of broad stone steps We're
discovered, but they are held to belons
to a later time when the city Law de-
serted and the one inhabited higher
yards.
Great hopes were set on the results
Of the investigation of the so-called
fountain hill. on the sides Of which is
situated the Sultan spring." Ain-es-
Sultan, whose waters arc thought to
nave attracted the first settlers. These
hopes were disappointed. but q more
Interesting collection o. /. lael;te hous-
es WIrca b. G. 1860 vas l,artiy brought
To light. one Of the cNcavated houses
was particularly well preserved. 1t
contained courtyard, open to the air.
WITH bench. Il long room and kitch-
ell opening on 10 the yard in which
the great water run still stood in it"
accustomed place. But not only cou1d
this housc-ohviously. as is pointed ont
a relic OF the recOlo:.i.ire of phe city
under Ahab-bc reconstructed accord
ing to plan, but numerous domestic
utilslls We're Observation-Disclosures ana
dlSheS pots and amphorate. corn mills
Of red sandstone, lamps and torch hold
VS. anu an hlIl!S vi IRON implements.
The forms of the vessels bear a clear
relationship to the Graeco- Phonecian
pottery found in Cyprus and have
nothing to do with the fragments or
anGient Canaante ware found in the
coufS" of the excavations. The eXca-
VatoIS work had demonstrated the fact
that in much later centuries the site of
ancient Jericho was inhabited A num-
Der OF graves of the early BysantAe
era. containing amphorae and pots and
number of glass vessels in COM
hlet" state of preservation. We're also
found. The glass vessels will throw
valuable light on the history of the
grass industry in the East Unfor-
tunately. practically no inscriptions
have been met with yet All that has
been discovered is number of stamps
on the handles of jars, apparently
bearing tn" name of the divinity jain.
The letters are Armaean. and seem
70 date from the fifth to the third CEN
turN before Christ. The excavations
VIII be resumed in the course of the
winter. and further results are looked
t" with great intercst.-Manchester
(E,n3O Guardian