ARCHÆOLOGY’S TESTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 12

ARCHÆOLOGY’S TESTS.

That the Biblical story of the flood in the days of Noah is true, “ even though distinguished theologians have ridiculed it,” is, we are told, the conclusion which Professor Leonard Wooley, head of the British Museum expedition in Southern Mesopotamia, bases on the discoveries resulting from the latest excavations. The explorers have discovered that what is left of the city of Ur of the Chaldees is in

such a position, underneath' a deep hod of clay,- that .only a flood of■ unexampled magnitude' can, in their judgment, afford >an adequate explanation; of how this ‘ -could have .been brought about.. There sterns no particular reason why anybody should quarrel- with such deductions. It is of interest to note that in a recently , published “ New Commentary . on -Holy Scripture, including the Apocrypha,” of which the editor-in-chief has been ,Dr Gore, described, as the greatest of English theologians living,. who had such assistance as to place behind the book an extraordinary weight of learning, the following reference is made to the' Deluge:—“ That this story of a universal deluge covering the whole earth so as to submerge the highest mountains cannot be historical hardly' needs . demonstration, , . . The ultimate origin of the legend is probably to .be found in some disastrous flood in Babylon.” About the occurrence of a great flood—perhaps more than one—the Anglican theologians whoso views have been quoted and Professor Wooley seem to be in agreement. The question of details is another matter.- Professor‘Wooley is credited with holding no brief whatever for the accuracy of Biblical narrative, and with . making :it- his business to arrive at the facts concerning former days without considering whether his discoveries confirm or conflict- with written records, Biblical or otherwise. Otherwise he would presumably not-be'doing the work on which he is engaged. - The part played ■by ...arclucology; .in iliummating ■ the historical 'background of' the Old Testament Scriptures is of extraordinary interest. The Rev. C. H. Mortlock, haring visited Palestine on behalf of the Daily Telegraph, has been' summing up in that journal the results of the work going, on there. Tic observes: “It is odd that while archwologists were unearthing the past, in Bible lands the Bible critics should have been weaving their, theories .with 'scarcely a, glance at the results of scientific excavations. Sometimes the- more reasonable conclusions prove , well founded, but for the most part the material evidence that comes to light, as the archaeological excavator digs below the surface of Bible lands, vindicates the Biblical tradition.” But to take the case of the Deluge as one in point, the theological critics, as we • have seen, have not been dismissing the. tradition of a Mood, but merely the kind of narrative that has gathered round it. It',has been claimed that recently published particulars of discoveries made by Sir William Ramsay in Asia .Minor have an extraordinary importance as proving the authenticity and early date of"the “Acts of the Apostles.” But Noah and the Ark present,,!t may be agreed, somewhat greater , difficulties. ‘