Offers American Committee for Palestine Exploration His Cooperation
Two thousand eight hundred sites in Palestine have been registered by the Antiquities Department of the Palestine government as places of historic interest for archaeological exploration, declared Dr. John Garstang of the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Liverpool, and formerly head of the Department of Antiquities of the Palestine Government, at a dinner given in his honor by the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society. The dinner was held at the City Club. Elisha Friedman, chairman of the American Committee of the Society, presided.
Archaeological excavations in Palestine must be conducted on the basis of international cooperation as the entire world is interested in Palestine’s past, Professor Garstang stated in his address which was illustrated by moving pictures showing the progress of the research work carried on by him on the route followed during Joshua’s campaign. The excavations made along the route bear out to the fullest degree the description given in the Bible. A map of the campaign can be reconstituted on the basis of the discoveries with greater precision than can maps of the world war campaigns, he stated. There are fewer discrepancies between the description given in the Book of Joshua and the testimony furnished by the findings, than between the German and French version of the military operations of the world war. The outline of Joshua’s route in the conquest of Palestine was completed by Professor Garstang’s discovery of Hazor, a point which also throws light on the campaign of Balak and Deborah against Sisera.
A government commission is now working on the findings at Jericho which may establish on this independent basis the date of the Israelites’ entry into Palestine.
Professor Garstang expressed his willingness to cooperate with the American Committee of the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society for a period of five years or more to complete the excavations.
Prof. Edwin R. A. Seligman of Columbia University spoke on the social and economic lessons derived from archaeological discoveries.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
