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

DURING 19 CENTURY: ASSYRIA AND BABYLONIA 535
of three fragments of pre-Sargonic cuneiform tablets, a clay
impression of an early type of seal cylinder, a fragmentary
cylinder in soapstone from the interior of a mud brick, a
few terra-cotta figurines (toys), the fragment of a large alabaster
bead, two copper tubes partly filled with an unknown
white substance (handles?), two fragments of a copper arm
ring, an entire pre-Sargonic terra-cotta cup, and a few pieces
of stone vessels of the same early period.
In continuing our search for possible building remains at
both ends of the long wall, we unearthed the fragment of a
crude brick wall, iSj4 feet thick (No. 3), near the west bank
of the Shatt en-Nil and the remains of a burned brick pavement
coated with bitumen close by. 1
Under the latter were
a bell-shaped drain (No. 4) and fragments of a second
smaller one to the west of it. At the opposite (west) end
of the wall we discovered a pre-Sargonic well built of brick, 2
laid in herring-bone fashion. In accordance with the ordinary
form of the earliest Babylonian wells, it was considerably
narrower at the top 3 than near the bottom. We
commenced clearing it of the rubbish with which it was
choked up, when at a depth of over eight feet we were
stopped in our progress by the water of the spring rains.
" The top of the well itself was almost upon a level with
the bottom of the drain at the east end of the wall," — a
circumstance sufficientlv explaining why the baked bricks
of the drain pavement are of somewhat more recent date
than those of the well at the west end.
There can be no doubt that the long wall was a regular
1
The bricks being slightly smaller in size than those of Sargon I., and
Naram-Sin, indicate a period of construction not very far remote from the
governments of the two rulers.
2
These doubtless pre-Sargonic bricks are of a peculiar type. Averaging
1 1 j/ by 7 5/g by 33^ inches in size, they are nearly flat on the top, but have
a slight furrow along the one long edge.
3
Three feet one inch internal and nearly six feet external diameter.