| Show uncover site of ancient cit city of biblical interest important additions to present day knowledge of 0 early palestine and its inhabitants have been made by the Ilav llave rford erford college arche archaeological archeological expeditions ions during live five of the last six years extensive field work has produced brilliant results under the direction of prof 1 ifju grant who heads beads the department of biblical literature at nav erford the findings of the fifth expedition which went into the field last spring are now being classified plans are being made tor for a sixth expedition in 1034 1934 the haverford Hav erford excavations ire are I 1 located at aln which Is in the lower hill country about twenty miles west of jerusalem overlooking the mediterranean this mound ruin Is the alt site of ancient beth a city which flourished between 1800 and B C the city lay on important trade routes between egypt palestine and syria professor grants first expedition discovered three bronze age cemeteries which yielded one of the largest known treasures of canaanite burial deposits digging to depths of 20 feet below the surmounting wheat fields doctor grants parties have unearthed four successive levels representing distinct epochs in the cites history conquest by invaders pillaging and destruction by fire are written in the archeo logic record after the ruin of the first city at kin aln walls and root roof beams of buildings were pushed in on the lower floors the demolished structures werft leveled off by the new builders and another city was erected on the ruins of the old this process occurred over again and again until four or perhaps five fire successive cities had been built destroyed and rebuilt remains of temples palaces dwellings shops and industrial properties all testify y to the existence of beth as a prosperous city of early palestine the wealth of personal belongings found including vases flasks flacks bowls tools weapons and jewelry revealed an industrious population which thrived some years ago the relation of both beth to the biblical record of ancient palestine Is a fascinating study nearby was the birthplace of samson who may have trod its streets of egypt Is believed to have been one of the destroyers of the city the principal temple of both beth perhaps was laid in ruins ruing at the time of the exile the tangible result of these expeditions has been the formation of at a palestine museum at Hav haverford erford college containing an abundance of valuable material several reports elaborating in detail on the field discoveries have been published by doctor grant |
