Shiloh's Archaeology in the News - in 1929

April 10, 1929
 
Important Archaeological Find in Palestine

Jerusalem, Apr. 9 (JTA) –

The site of the ancient sanctuary of the Israelites at Shiloh, which preceded the erection of the Solomonic Temple, is believed to have been discovered in the excavations of a Danish expedition excavating at Seilun.

The expedition discovered the remains of a Byzantine church. By its simple character it proves the antiquity of the tradition that Seilun is identical with the Biblical Shiloh.

And 84 years later, we're still excavating that church.

And the news is:

One of the earliest churches ever to be excavated in Israel was recently discovered in the archeological site of Tel Shilo, in Samaria...The many visitors who came to see the excavations at the Tel Shilo site over Passover last month were first told of the discovery, which was accidental. 

The church was uncovered when rainwater, which was abundant this winter, seeped into the ancient basilica at the archaeological site. In efforts to prevent the water from causing damage to the basilica, it was decided to dig a drainage ditch. The workers who dug the ditch accidentally discovered three mosaics that had been incredibly preserved, which led to the discovery of the ancient three-room church.

Well, almost that's how it happened. 


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