Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 92:366 (Apr 1935)
Article: Locating and Excavating Ancient Palestinian Cities
Author: James L. Kelso

BSac 92:366 (Apr 35) p. 170

Locating and Excavating Ancient Palestinian Cities

James L. Kelso

The archaeologist’s first problem is to find his city, and this is not always an easy task. In locating a Biblical city the technique is as follows. First, a detailed study of all the direct Biblical references or possible allusions to that site is made. This study usually shows a city in its relationship to various cities. Then by the lay of the land in that part of Palestine the possible site of the desired city is gradually reduced to some point within a reasonably small area.

Second, a similar study is made of all references to the site in contemporaneous non-Biblical sources. Third, the early church fathers of Palestine are studied and their locations of these sites are noted and checked against the above data. Eusebius is the most useful of all the fathers in this work.

A field trip is next in order. On foot or horseback the archaeologist must now patiently search through the territory within whose area he feels that the city is to be found. He visits the most likley sites first, by which is meant, points where nature is favorable to a city’s rise and growth. Such points are excellent springs or wells (especially if the site is before the days when cisterns were invented); junctions of valleys, especially those at right angles (where cities are likely to arise because of a natural trading center); isolated hill tops, whose nature makes them easy of defense (especially after the invention of cisterns); juxtaposition of any

BSac 92:366 (Apr 35) p. 171

divergent phases of geography, such as the edge of the desert and the sown, the point where steep valleys flatten out into a plain, or a location where a favorable pass enters or leaves a mountain defile.

In some such strategic geographic point the archaeologist will find a tell. This is the technical term for the ruins of an ancient walled city. Whenever one comes within sight of a tell the first part of his work is finished. A tell can normally be recognized instantly for it has a peculiar shape that is never found in natural hills. This odd shape is due to the unusual angle of the revetment of the ancient city wall, which lies just under the sloping surface soil of the tell. This is an artificial, a man-made angle, and is not one which is found when nature alone shapes a hill top.

When the archaeologist’s party has arrived at the bottom of this hill upon which the tell is located the members of the expedition are spread out in fan formation in the valley and then slowly climb toward the tell which crowns the hill top. (A few tells are not upon hill tops but that is the exception). As the party moves upward they gather all pieces of bro...