Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-02-10

PROMISING sizes, d3lllS luft1er back
into the earlier history of Palestine H.
fore the Jews, are also awaiting exca-
walton. One Of these Is the ancient
fortress Of AIagiddo, famous as far
back as the time Of the pharaohs. and
an American university is proposing
to make complete examination of
this site Another is Beisan, which
lies at the junction of the Vale of
distraction, With the Valley of the Jor-
dan in commanding position. sptly
described by George Adam Smith as
the key TO Palestine. This site is now
marked by imposing mounds. which
have long been source of surrepti-
tiOus digging by curiO hunters and
dealers. II IS very satisfactory 10 be
able To say that a second university in
Americs. with very considerable re-
sources. IS arranging to eXcavate here.
Streets of Ascaion Opened.
a very Interesting discovery was
made al the close Of the war near
jericho. Where the remains of an an
Client Jewish synagogue, having IA mo-
sale paved floor with an inscription in
early Hebrew characters worked into
the pavement design were found The
excavation of this is TO be completed
by the very learned Dominican archie
oiOgists representing the French school
of archaeology in Palestine \ young
and vigorous Jewish archaeological So
ciety Is making a preliminary exam
nation Of various sites Of interest in
Jewish history. notably Artuf.
CaeSarea and liberia. The latter is
proving 10 he of particular interest and
attention WAS directed to it early after
the British occupation, when numerous
traces of ancient buildings of the pc
Rod of Talmud, just south of the town,
were brought to light by roadmakers
and engineers in the course Of their
duties. Overlooking the northern
shore of the Sea of Galilee are the very
remarkable and interesting remains of
an early Jewish synagogue.
IT is to be hoped that on the com
pletion of the excavation steps will
be taken and the means forthcoming
to restore this ancient building. of
which a great portion of the masonry
Is lying about, apparently as the re-
suit of some earthquake. Should it
be possible scientifically to reconstruct
the building it will prove unique ad-
dition TO the wonders of Palestine.
The chief feature Of the last year in
the work of excavation has been the
opening of the work at Ascalon, which
has been undertaken by. the Palestine
yet published. but are Of remarkable
promise. a very fine building of Ro-
man date--namely, n massive temple
or forum built entirely of Greek mar
bic possibly the Temple of the For
tune or City Goddess. was one of the
wonders discovered The columns of
this building weighed nine tons each,
and the capitals three tons. The whole
structure. both floors, walls and col
umns, is entirely of marble. 1t is to
he presumed that the building was pre-
pared In one of the Greek islands and
tranShpped, ready for construction. to
AscHon during The first or second
century 81 our era. traces nave DeeH
found of a secret we'll mentioned by
one Of the early writer's, possibly a
remnant of the early sacred lake of
the famous goddess DerCeto.
Ascalon WIS the home of Herod the
Great, and we are told in early litera-
tire that he greatly cmbellished the
city with splendid cOlonnades. II will
in time he possible to recognize these.
one of the objects discovered is a gi-
gantic foot, measuring over yard
from heel TO zoe. wearing a sandal the
whole in alahaster possibly part Of q
huge statue of his time. The chief in
tercSt to the scientific world Is the eff
fort which the Palestine Exploration
fund is making to recover some tan
gible remains of the Philistines and
their civilization, and it is belieyef
that the layers representing this pc
Rod have been located, as well ns
some objects illustrating their ciyliza
ton. Unfortunately. the Philistine lay
er is al a great depth, five 10 seven me
tiers &c to % fee0 below the surface,
and all those interested in the develop
ment of our knowledge Of Palestine il
Bible times must realize that the worl
of the fund can only be adequately
done If adequately supported.