i. IR-RUBBEH.
The first site in the cAla visited by this Expedition was a small modern village
at the foot of a high fortified tell. The tell, roughly speaking, has the form of a
truncated cone, the plateau at the top being 4 or 5 acres in extent. The sides are
steep, and are composed of a massive wall built in part of bowlders, and in part of
crude polygonal masonry, almost “Cyclopaean” in effect (Bl. 1). This wall follows a
111. 1. Ir-Rubbeh; Part of retaining wall of Tell.
somewhat irregular outline, broken into curves and angles, but roughly describing a
circle. It is well preserved, and shows that it was better built in some places than
in others; for several sections have a very smooth surface of polygonal work. These
sections, unfortunately, could not be so well photographed as the less well constructed
parts, one of which is shown in the accompanying photograph. A roadway winds up
at one side of the tell in the usual manner of approaches to ancient strongholds, i.e.
in such a way that the left side of those ascending is next to the wall. A salient
tower projects at the top of the roadway. On one side the top of the wall is not
more than 6 meters above the level of the base, on the other it rises fully 12 meters
The first site in the cAla visited by this Expedition was a small modern village
at the foot of a high fortified tell. The tell, roughly speaking, has the form of a
truncated cone, the plateau at the top being 4 or 5 acres in extent. The sides are
steep, and are composed of a massive wall built in part of bowlders, and in part of
crude polygonal masonry, almost “Cyclopaean” in effect (Bl. 1). This wall follows a
111. 1. Ir-Rubbeh; Part of retaining wall of Tell.
somewhat irregular outline, broken into curves and angles, but roughly describing a
circle. It is well preserved, and shows that it was better built in some places than
in others; for several sections have a very smooth surface of polygonal work. These
sections, unfortunately, could not be so well photographed as the less well constructed
parts, one of which is shown in the accompanying photograph. A roadway winds up
at one side of the tell in the usual manner of approaches to ancient strongholds, i.e.
in such a way that the left side of those ascending is next to the wall. A salient
tower projects at the top of the roadway. On one side the top of the wall is not
more than 6 meters above the level of the base, on the other it rises fully 12 meters