Copper Built Solomon’s Riches

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 11

Copper Built Solomon’s Riches

JERUSALEM. —Traces of intensive occupation, dating back as far as 2000 B. C., of the arid Wadi Araba, which extends from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba, were described here recently by Prof. Nelson Glueck, director of the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem.

Very little has ever grown in Araba, said Professor Glueck. But on the other hand, investigations carried out by the American school in conjunction witn the Trausjordau Department of Agriquities point to the fact that there was a continuous strip of iron and copper ore from the northeast to the southwest corners of the area. This area was intensively mined between the twelfth and eighth centuries B. C. and esppecially in the tenth and ninth centuries and during the reign of King Solo-

Professor Glueck described nis expedition into Araba carried out three years ago and the aerial survey which he made recently. The flight revealed, on tho eastern shore of the Dead Sea, an ancient Roman highway which was marked by many Roman posts. This, and all other highways of which there are still many signs, stated the archaeologist, were occupied through all periods since the Bronze Age.

In Aruba many ruins of the miners l huts and piles of slag and remains of smelting furnaces were found. Fragments of pottery were also discovered. The identification of pottery in Palestine has been developed into so exact a science, that these fragments were sufficient to date most of the mining activity as having been concentratea in the "heyday of the Judaeau kings." Much of King Solomon's wealth, Dr. Glueck believes, was derived from the export of copper and iron ore. Ore which was 00 per cent pure haematite has been found at a site bohind Petra, that 4 ‘rose-red" Nabatean stronghold hewn into the mountains and approached only through a long, narrow gorge hundreds of feet deep.