The sun., 1909-01-31
THE WALLS or JERICHO
Located BY German Explorers Near the
Dead ea-Aeccssible 10 Tourists.

LONDON, Jan. 20. For centuries the
famous walls of Jericho were lost to the
sight OF man. Even their exact location
was matter Of surmise. But to-day they
may be seen by any twentieth century
tourist who cares to make the journey.
The supposed site OF the ancient Jericho
was collection Of mounds in the neigh
borhood OF the village OF Ericha near the
Dead Sea. Thanks TO the enterprise OF
the Deutsche Orient Gesellschaft what
was surmise has now been established a.
fact. After a preliminary investigation
an expedition was despatched last year
consisting Of Prof, Sellin. Herr Langen-
egger. q Government architect. and Prof
Watzinger. an al ohsoloeist Of Rostock.
The excavations. which were conducted
interesting results. The ate invest gated
was plateau 700 yards long by $50 broad
containing seven mounds. After weeks
digging the exterior wall Of the vanished
city was encountered at depth Of eight
feet below the surface. The excavators
were astonished at the technical excellence
Of the construction.
The wall consisted OF three parts. The
natural rock foundation 10 overlaid with
a filing OF loan and fine gravel. a meter
or 30 deep. upon which q sloping rubble
wall, heavily bulging externally, is super
posed to height OF twenty feet, the
breadth being from six and half feet TO
eight feet.
The wall is built OF we'll laid rubble,
which becomes finer toward the top.
Enormous blocks are partially employed
for the lower part OF the wall. Every
interstice is most carefully filed In 90 as
10 offer no advantages TO the implements
OF destruction OF a hostile force.
Finally upon this imposing foundation
clay bricks. In one place this part Of the
wall reaches q height Of eight feet. but
II would seem to have been considerably
higher The whole must have been q
most striking structure which domi-
mated tho whole plain without the city
and must have been visible for miles.
The only advantage which In point
ton possesses over the walls Of Jericho 10,
the excavators state, the use OF mortar,
which was unknown TO these early arohi-
tects.
The walls are estimated TO have ex.
tended 600 yards; 450 yards have already
been laid bare with the aid Of 200 worimsn
employed by the expedition. To the
north the fortihcations arc breaohsd
by large heap Of rubbish. which would
seem to Indicate that enemies must have
penetrated here on some occasion.
: The date Of the destruction Of the walls
OF Jericho by Joshua. son Of Nun, is placed
at B. G. 1851. In spite OF Joshua's curse
on any who. should rebuild the city, It
was rebuilt in the reign Of Ahab, s. G.
elS. by Hiel the Bethelits.- who laid
the foundation thereof with the loss Of
Abiram. his first born. and set up the
gates thereof with the loss OF his youngest
son, Segub. according TO the word Of the
Lord, which he spake by the hand OF
Joshua the son Of Nun
With the curse fulfilled on its builder
the eeccnd city hourished sad Under
Herod the Great became important
II was sacked by one simon, slave to
Herod. Arohelaus. the son OF Herod,
founded the town anew on the plain
whioh he had planted With palms. Jericho
was finally destroyed by vsspasian in
A d. Az