Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

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338 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
every depth in the layer of rubbish which filled the space
between the uppermost settlement and the floor of the building
just mentioned to the height of six to ten feet. In no
instance, however, were they discovered below the level of
the court of columns, while repeatedly the burial-shafts were
cut through the walls of the rooms grouped around it.
Hence
it follows that these interments must have taken place at a
time when the imposing building was alreadv in ruins, — in
other words, at a period commencing shortlv before our own
era, and terminating about the sixth or seventh century
a. d., if the palace in question was really of Seleucido-Parthian
origin. This, however, was contested by Peters, who believed
to have found evidence that the structure was a thousand
years earlier. His work in and around this building
may be sketched briefly as follows :
The open court flanked by columns having been excavated
completely in 1889, Peters undertook next to search for the
rooms to which it probably gave light and access. As, in
consequence of the slope of the hill, a considerable part of
the
ancient building had been washed away in the northeast
and southeast directions, he concentrated his efforts upon an
examination of the highest section of the mound, exploring
especially the ruined mass southwest of the colonnade.
He
was soon able to show that, contrary to our previous theory,
certain pieces of charred wood and small heaps of ashes discovered
along the edge of the court did not belong to subsequent
burials, but were remains of palm beams which originally
rested on the columns and stretched across a narrow
space to the walls of chambers surrounding the former on
all four sides. We should expect that Peters, once having
established this interesting fact, would have spared no pains
to examine a building systematically, which, as late as 1897,
he described as " the most interesting and ambitious structure
excavated at Nippur next to the temple."
But judging,
as he did, the success of his expedition mainlv "by the dis-