Workmen Who Are Reviving the Famous Faience Works in Jerusalem; They Shape Their Jars on the Potter's Wheel, One of the Oldest Pieces of Machinery in Existence
By HAROLD J. SHEPSTONE, F.R.G.S.
Palestine is at present the scene of an intense campaign of excavation. There are no fewer than eleven different expeditions in the field, representing seven different nations. Great Britain, America, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany and Austria.
Under the Turks, excavation work in Palestine was not only costly, but the restrictions imposed were very irritating. Today, under the British, every encouragement is being given to a scientific exploration of the mounds and sites which are known to mark places of historic interest. Furthermore, valuable work is being undertaken in preserving the existing ruins. One feature of this work is the reconstruction of an ancient synagogue at Capernaum, believed to be the very one in which Christ taught.
Jerusalem itself has been the scene of much activity during the past few months. On the site of Ophel, to the south of the present walls of the city, excavations have been made to the ancient level, and a part of the wall that inclosed the ancient Jebusite city has been discovered. It is built in the slanting manner, each course of stones being farther in than the one below it. This is the same kind of Canaanitish fortification as has been found at ancient Jericho. The Canaanitish wall continues southward, but just next to the bastion is seen a corner tower of a very different type, built of larger stones and better masonry. This is Davidic work, and, as it intervenes in the gap in the Canaanitish wall, is thought to be the "breach," which David is recorded to have built up, and may be the "Millo" which is often mentioned in the Old Testament, and which actually means a "filling up." To the east of this, there is a wall of a later period, which lies outside of the
