Dr. Nelson Glueck, archaeologist and newly-appointed director of the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem, said today he expects to trace the exact route followed by the Israelites in the exodus from Egypt.
He declared in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he hopes to find important copper mines on the Sinai peninsula which will serve as a clue to the route of the Hebrews’ wanderings. He will said on the liner Excalibur June 9 and arrive in Palestine June 28 to take up his research. Dr. Glueck is the only American Jew engaged in archaeology in Palestine and Transjordan.
“Where there are copper mines there were trade routes,” Dr. Glueck said. “Last year we were able to find mines, both copper and iron, from the Dead Sea down to the Gulf of Akaba. I am convinced that I can find more mines all the way down to Serabit el-Khadim in Sinai, where ancient Egyptian copper-workings have been discovered.”
He explained that the Israelites, in their line of march from Egypt would probably have followed the route of the Sinai copper mines. In tracing this route, Dr. Glueck will attempt to penetrate forbidden Midian, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and, centuries before, by Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro. He said the district belongs to Ibn Saud, King of Hejaz, “and it’s terribly difficult to get into his territory.”
Dr. Glueck intends to continue his explorations into ancient Ammon and Gilead and trace the ancient trade routes from Palestine to Yemen. “We will travel on camels and will have to carry supplies and water,” he said. “We won’t touch the Mecca and Medina region–all non-Mohammedans are unconditionally barred from that territory.”
Chemical analysis of some of the iron are found on his last expedition to Palestine shows sixty per cent pure iron content, he said.
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